Class.
Book.
< \5*r
JJL
IA-2.
Copyright^ .
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT;
AMY, THE STOLEN WIFE.
"I will never believe this sweet face is a mask
hiding a hypocritical soul." — Her Husband.
AMY
THE STOLEN WIFE
A TRUE LOVE STORY.
COMBINED WITH MEDICAL FACTS OF
IMPORTANCE MENTALLY AND
PHYSIOLOGICALLY
PROOFS OF THE DOMINATION OVER A
NONRESISTANT BY POSITIVE
MALEVOLENT PEOPLE
BY CHARLES McCORMICK, M. D.
AUTHOR OF "NEUROLOGY AND METAPHYSICS,"
"SYNOPSIS OF NEUROLOGY," "OPTICAL TRUTHS,"
ETC. EDITOR, "MATURE MEDICINE."
Published by
McCORMICK MEDICAL COLLEGE,
CHICAGO, 1910.
y\*
COPYRIGHT, 1910,
BY THE AUTHOR.
©CLA273649
The Cause is Greater
than the Individual
PRELIMINARY.
If this book only accomplishes a modicum of its
object it will have satisfied me for the effort.
The distressing circumstances which have made
necessary the publication of personal affairs, with
the names of those involved, will appear in the
narrative.
That the dereliction of my wife has been in-
voluntary; that without being insane in the slightest
degree, as the word is understood popularly, her
mind has been dominated, through her sympathetic
nature, by others, in a most diabolical manner, to
"gratify their malevolent spirits. I believe as firmly
as I believe in the purity of her character.
The persistence with which a lie has been adhered
to has forced the use of plain language, sometimes
spoken or written to her, but always intended for
those who dominated her.
Readers will send me their opinions of all the
characters portrayed in this book and I will print
another, a sequel to this one, which will afford op-
portunity for all who have an interest in the sup-
pression of people of classes "C" and "D", and for
those who desire to express themselves briefly and
to the point with reference to the author and his
subjects. rp, • A ,,
J The Author.
Chicago, September 9, 1910.
EMOTIONS.
The greatest misfortune which ever befell
humanity was the substitution of the artificial
for the natural.
The two most striking exemplifications of
this assertion are found in religion and medicine.
The first has polluted mentalities ; the second
has infected bodies for ages. As a dual mon-
strosity it has tyrannized the world with prom-
ises it has failed to keep and threats it executed
without stint.
Knowledge and education are as different as
Nature and man. To acquire the first each in-
dividual must study fundamental principles and
utilize them at all times, upon all questions.
The second is a superficial thing, proved by the
readiness with which it is forgotten. We are
all so affected by education that even the most
natural among us exhibits radical symptoms
often. It is so difficult to establish a line be-
tween the natural and artificial it will not be at-
tempted here. No recital of human experiences
could be all on the one side ; hence this story
is of things as seen and understood by the per-
sons involved and it is the unvarnished truth so
far as one person is capable of telling it.
Mental sensations have been enumerated:
THE STOLEN WIFE
Pleasure, grief, love, hate, hope, disappointment,
fear, etc., which confuse the rational and culti-
vate the romantic. There are really but four
classes of emotions, and, for convenience,
these are put in diagramatic form, with the four
principal symptoms of each appended:
Good
Class "A"
Fair
Class U B"
Medium
Class "C"
Bad
Class "D"
"Amiable
Thoughtful
Considerate
^Sympathetic
'Philosophic
Impulsive
Just
.Courageous
'Indifferent
Erratic
Vain
.Boastful
^Jealous
Envious
Malevolent
.Hypocritical
It should not be understood that there are
but four classes of people, because there are as
many varieties of mentalities as there are of
physical bodies ; but, as the physical conforms
THE STOLEN WIFE 7
in a general way to anatomical laws, so the mental
conforms in a general way to metaphysical laws,
with the difference that environment affects
the mental more scandalously.
Taking the classifications as given : The first
is the best and the weakest. It is always liable
to infection and imposition from; association,
particularly from the bad, because the good are
so good they cannot see badness unless it is
pointed out to them (and sometimes not then),
and the bad make it their business to point from
themselves. The second is the most practical
and successful, possessing enough of the other
characteristics to know how to meet the medium
and bad and win ; but such are in danger of los-
ing with the first class, because the third and
fourth usually make marks of the second, who
often overvalue the qualities of the first. The
third is nearly always third; one may be as-
sisted to the second position, but is more liable
to be lead by the more positive fourth class and
suffer the fate of the "old dog Tray/' The
fourth is always bad.
In classifying people, how r ever, the physio-
logical conditions of the body must be consid-
ered, because there is that interdependence be-
tween the mental and physiological which makes
the disorders of one involve the other as surely
as both exist, and disorder in either department
tends to lower the class of both. It does not
8 THE STOLEN WIFE
follow that one so lowered cannot regain good
standing in his or her proper class.
Since Nature has endowed humanity with
mental capacity superior to other animals, it be-
comes a duty for each one of us to cultivate our
talents and render assistance to others in culti-
vating theirs ; because, when , we shall have
reached the condition in which self-respect is
supreme we will be -what Nature intended; not
before.
If there were no artificial codes, ordinances,
customs, prejudices, and if the simple principles
of Nature had been studied and taught instead,
classes "A" and "B" would number millions
and the other two would be in a hopeless minor-
ity. Unhappily, under existing conditions they
comprise a very large majority. A more de-
tailed description of each class will not be amiss,
in view of the importance of the subject:
It should be remembered always that a state
of mind may be real or simulated. Hence the
necessity for a standard by which to analyze
people as well as other subjects.
Examining the definitions of the four words
describing class "A" in the diagram we find:
"Amiable" means "friendly, lovely, worthy of
love, deserving of affection" ; also, "pretending
to love, pretending friendship." "Thought" is
"meditation, design, intention, development of
ideas" ; and these may be good or bad, for
THE STOLEN WIFE 9
class "A" is human and is susceptible to influ-
ences from the other three classes. "Consider-
ate" is defined as "discreet, prudent, deliberate,
serious"; but, under the influence of one of the
other classes even "A" might slip and be indis-
creet,, imprudent, hasty, foolish. The definition of
the next word exposes the weak characteristic
of this class which is utilized by all the others
either with good intent or with malice toward
their victim or toward others who can be favored
or punished by sacrificing this one. "Sympa-
thetic" means, "feeling in consequence of what
another feels ; to be affected by feelings similar
to those exhibited by another, in consequence of
knowing the person to be thus affected ; an agree-
ment of affections or inclinations or a con-
formity of natural temperament which makes
two persons pleased with each other; kindness
of feeling toward one who suffers ; pity ; com-
miseration ; an involuntary susceptibility to dom-
ination by more positive temperaments."
One of the characters in this story exhibits
class "A" in her face and in her general conduct
(with this exception.) She has done this uni-
formly for more than six years under my ob-
servation. Therefore I am sure she has been
dominated most cruelly in this affair by those
whose conditions excited her sympathy to the
point where she became indiscreet, imprudent,
hasty, and, finally, foolish. It is not her nature
10 THE STOLEN WIFE
to be treacherous, cruel, sneaky, gossipy, slan-
derous, tricky. Yet she has done all of these
things, as the story will show in its course. She
has been in the company of those who, being of
a lower order, iind pleasure in making others un-
happy. One of the lowest type, her sister, inocu-
lated her mind with hatred for her own brother
with the chief object in view of punishing me
because she could 'not dominate me and my work
as she had always been permitted to dominate
those of her family with whom she came in con-
tact. When matters came to a climax she was
astonished, as she has confessed through her
victim; but it only made her all the more vindic-
tive and she sought and received the aid of
others of her class and of class "C" whom she
found among her relatives and my own — people
I have always been good to. Xever in my life
have I seen so positive a demonstration of
thought transference and the domination of one
person's will by another. I refuse to believe the
sweet face, shown as the frontispiece of this
book, is a mask covering a hypocritical soul. I
will go to my grave believing in her goodness. I
hold naught against her. because analysis of the
situation protects her even against her own as-
sertions to the contrary. The reader will see in
the narrative how she wavered at times and how
nearly I won her; and. I am sure will see her as
THE STOLEN WIFE 11
I see her and will rejoice with me if I win yet,
dark as the prospect appears.
Class "B" analyzed according to the four
subdivisions shows : "Philosophic" is literally
"love of truth as found in Nature," hence one
who studies along natural lines is more or less of
a philosopher as he applies himself much or lit-
tle; "Impulsive" is "sudden action on the
strength of having been prepared for an emer-
gency; or, acting unexpectedly from, an impres-
sion on the mind which interferes with delibera-
tion" ; hence many acts of such are unwise, but
it does not follow all are; "Just," "rendering or
disposed to render to each one his due; a desire
to be equitable ; conforming to reasonable ex-
pectations ; orderly, accurate, sincere" ; "Cour-
ageous," "a quality of mind which combines
magnanimity w T ith fearlessness; resolute, daring,
enterprising, persistent." This class constitute
the nourishing and operative systems of society.
It is not unnatural that they exhibit the symp-
toms of classes "C" and "D" often, because they
are thrown in contact so much. It is they who do
things. It is their sacrifices which enable the
others to survive. They receive few thinks
and many kicks and learn finally to expect little
else. They do not appreciate the former particu-
larly and would be entirely satisfied to be re-
lieved of the latter. They do appreciate the
benediction conferred by the companionship of
12 THE STOLEN WIFE
class "A" because the better side of their natures
is brought out by that comiradeship and they
gladly afford such companions homes and sus-
tenance, feeling fully repaid in enjoying
the embodiment of peace, content and
goodness, after the necessary hours of
business strain are over. They do not
measure success with a dollar mark, yet
some of them accumulate a goodly share of
the "long green." They are liable to undertake
too heavy loads and are not, therefore, always
companionable to those who do not realize the
responsibilities they carry, hence they invite
criticism, under present conditions in which the
crime of ignorance prevails and is all the worse
because so few recognize its presence. If proof
is wanted ask the next hundred persons you meet
some question of importance which you know
must require study before any opinion could
be worth much. You will get positive replies
from ninety per cent. Doctors have more of
this nonsense to contend with than almost any
other sort — <save and except always the "butt-
in-ski" family. People have no hesitancy in in-
terfering, even where lives are at stake, setting
their opinions against those who have been
trained in essentials of which the laity know
nothing; hence it is not surprising that some de-
light in destroying the happiness of those around
them.
THE STOLEN WIFE 13
Class "C": "Indifferent/' "neither particu-
larly good nor very bad ; careless ; negligent ;
passable; mediocre; easily influenced and often
made the tool of the lower class to accomplish
malevolent ends"; "Erratic," "having no certain
course; deviating in opinion to be agreeable to
whomi they are with ; a rogue ; one who wanders
from the paths of rectitude and usually has
church affiliations as a cover"; "Vain/' "proud
of petty things ; elated with a high opinion of
one's own accomplishments, as in 'society' ;
showy ; ostentatious ; false ; deceitful" ; "Boast-
ful," "giving expression to vanity in language."
This is a dangerous class, not only to society
generally but to itself individually, because, be-
ing without good judgment, it often places itself
in positions where those of class "D," who are
absolutely without scruples, can command them.
This story pictures one of this class and how her
weakness was taken advantage of by another.
Class "D" : "Jealous," "painful apprehen-
sion of rivalship in cases affecting one's happi-
ness ; suspicious ; uneasy through fear that good
will, interest, affection, or the like, as belonging
to one's self be transferred to another (dogs
exhibit this) ; pained by suspicions of prefer-
ence given to another" ; "Envious," "repining
or feeling uneasiness at a view of the excellence,
prosperity or happiness of another" ; "Malevo-
lent," "ill disposed; spiteful; rejoicing in the
14 THE STOLEN WIFE
misfortune of others; vile; implacable" ; "Hypo-
critical," "proceeding from an outward show of
virtue and piety; dissembling ; attempting to con-
ceal one's real motives or character; prating of
'conscience/ " This class is all bad, but, in some
respects is not so dangerous as class "C," be-
cause their badness is so apparent, often, that
their schemes are frustrated. Sooner or later
they will meet their deserts, if the example I
have set in this book concerning some of them is
emulated by others who have suffered and who
will suffer from their malevolence. No family
ties, no sentiment of any sort should be allowed
to protect them. If it becomes generally known
that Publicity will be given to gossips and busy-
bodies, male and female, and that they will be
accorded the scorn they deserve, they will be
less liable to ply their vocations.
MINDS AXD BODIES.
The four grand divisions of human physi-
ology are the brain, thoracic organs, abdominal
viscera and the procreative apparatus. The
functions of each, their relationship to each
other, their collective and individual influence
upon the mentality and the effects of the emo-
tions upon them constitute a quadrality of sub-
jects which affords to students an inexhaustible
topic. They should be considered first from the
standpoint of ideal normality. The student
should not permit himself to be hampered by
codes, dogmas, or any other handicap. He
should accept no "authority" save Nature,, as
She exhibits Her laws to him, physically, in
manners susceptible of mathematical proof.
When one begins with the laws of light,
which exhibit chemically and mechanically, one
is more able to comprehend the designs of the
Great Mentality to which we ascribe the origin
of all things natural. Of course there are limi-
tations to what we shall learn; this is proved to
us physically by finding the limitations of natu-
ral laws, which are the points at which they re-
verse themselves; but, by endowing us with ca-
pacity and opportunities for investigation. Na-
16 THE STOLEN WIFE
ture voluntarily tendered Her whole plan for
our scrutiny.
In a single individual the brain ranks first.,
because therein lies the connection between the
Great Mentality and the body: also because the
brain controls, involuntarily and voluntarily,
all other departments of the physiological appar-
atus. Therefore the pathology of mentalities is
of paramount importance. The causes may be
mental or physical, or both. If the physiology
of the physical body becomes disordered that of
the mentality will be involved in exactly the
proportions of the affinities between them. The
reverse is equally true. When anyone "catches"
the "smallpox." or any other "contagious"
"disease," after "exposure," it is a typical ex-
hibit of the relationship existing between the
mental and physical bodies. When one is "ex-
posed" and does not know it. yet develops the
"disease/' 1 it only proves that he was about to
exhibit effects of his condition and the "expos-
ure" was only coincidental, because hundreds of
persons who were "exposed" at the same time
proved "immune." Infection, by vaccination,
for example, leaves little or nothing for the
mentality to do. It is purely a physical, chemi-
cal proposition, fraught with ten thousand times
the danger of any "contagion." The physio-
logical conduct of the brain, with the mentality
eliminated for the present, is a marvelous ex-
'Home is not Home without Her."
THE STOLEN WIFE 17
hibit of chemistry and mechanics as they are
demonstrated in the composition of the matter,
the arrangement of the lobes, ventricles and
subsidiary apparatus, the connections with the
rest of the body by way of the lymphatics, blood
vessels, nerves and connective tissue.
The lungs and heart are, respectively, chem-
ico-mechanical and purely mechanical. They are
known as "vital" organs, because when either
ceases work death ensues. They are subjects
for pathological consideration: the lungs direct-
ly, for mechanical obstruction or chemical in-
fection may put them out of commission ; the
heart indirectly, because its exhibits are entirely
dependent on the nerve supply to its muscles
from the storage battery in the brain. "Heart
disease" is a "bogie" which has been employed
to frighten susceptible people so long the doc-
tors have come to believe the story themselves,
without a particle of reason for it. Strychnine
and other poisons have been administered to
"stimulate" hearts when they have shown ir-
regularity or "weakness." It is as foolish as is
cutting muscles of the eyes to straighten cross-
eyes, when the whole trouble is in the amount
and distribution of the nerve supply. Doctors
who do either of these things prove their ignor-
ance of anatomy and physiology, of chemistry
and mechanics.
The abdominal organs comprise the entire di-
13 THE STOLEN WIFE
gestive and egestive apparatus so far as the mat-
ter of sustenance is concerned directly, and they
are the seat of more exhibits, pathologically,
than any other department; but their primary
causes are found frequently in parts quite re-
mote therefrom. For this reason people who are
not familiar with anatomy and physiology
should never attempt to treat themselves save
under the advice of a competent physician. Many
apparently trifling exhibits may mean serious
prospects unless the causes are arrested timely.
As a matter of precaution every family should
have an arrangement with a neurologist to ex-
amine its members from time to time and ren-
der whatever advice is found necessary in
order to maintain the highest standard of
health. A neurologist is not only a physician
but a metaphysician.
The procreative apparatus is second in im-
portance only to the brain, because, upon its
development and control depend not only the
mental and physiological health of the individ-
ual, but of his and her progeny. This is a sub-
ject of which physician and layman are as ig-
norant, or more ignorant than they are of the
mentality. It is one on which has been placed
the seal of disapproval of investigation by ec-
clesiastical and medical "authorities/' for the
very obvious purpose of preying on the credulity
of the masses mercenarily ; the first to promote
THE STOLEN WIFE 19
marriages and fees ; the second to promote sex
diseases and fees. That they are unreliable "au-
thorities" is proved by the facts that they rep-
resent two professions, the only ones, which are
split into factions which are at constant war with
each other, and they are the victims of their
own ignorance of sex matters, even while profit-
ing by the ignorance of their victims.
It is proposed to show here the criminality
of ignorance, the reprehensibility of education
along "accepted" lines, the contemptibility of
laziness in the matter of investigation, the truths
of natural laws and their workings.
The mania for operations upon women has
been raging for many years, to the profit of the
surgeons and the distress of their victims, yet
the craze is growing. The following statistics
of one hundred cases operated in the hospitals
of Broca and St. Louis, in Paris, France, were
printed in an American medical journal some
years ago, hence are "regular" : The entire hun-
dred were ovariotomies. The results were that
78 per cent suffered notable loss of memory.
60 per cent with flashes of heat and vertigo.
50 per cent change of character, more irritable.
42 per cent mentally depressed.
10 per cent verged upon melancholia.
75 per cent diminished sex desires.
35 per cent became abnormally fat.
12 per cent noted chanee to coarse voices.
15 per cent exhibited skin affections.
25 per cent periodical headaches.
20 THE STOLEN WIFE
25 per cent developed nightmare.
5 per cent suffered from insomnia.
13 per cent were not relieved of the trouble for
which they were operated.
Thus we find that 423 new ills were developed
by the operations, or four and one-third for
each victim. Still the Mayos and the Murphys
continue to cut and slash, and the women con-
tinue to march up to .the slaughter.
Neurology is a mature system of practice
which has been developed unostentatiously dur-
ing the past twenty years. It has eliminated
drugs and all operations save those necessitated
by accidents and a few cases in which it may
become necessary to sacrifice a part to save the
rest of the body. It has developed a system
of nerve measurements by which cases are ana-
lyzed instead of diagnosed. It straightens cross-
eyes without operation. It has developed the
chemistry of food and prescribes the essential
elements for body nourishment in the forms
Nature combined them — it took fifteen years'
work to develop this alone. It reaches causes
and removes them. It has done many other
things to make a system broad enough to take
in everything chemical and mechanical, physi-
cal and metaphysical. It has no quarrel with any
sect of medicine. It teaches mental therapy, os-
teotherapy, hydrotherapy, and even old-school
drug therapy in addition to its own, for the sake
of comparison. Our profession is our religion.
THE STOLEN WIFE 21
We minister to the mind as well as to the body.
We meet puzzles. . We solve nearly all of them.
The physiological ones are easy. The mental
ones are not, because there are so many "bad"
ones who work against us insiduously and gloat
over their successes publicly, as will be shown in
this book.
The sex teachings of McCormick Medical Col-
lege, to which reference will be made in the
course of this narrative, merit a word of expla-
nation :
With us "sex" diseases are distinguished from
"venereal" diseases because they are ignored en-
tirely in the old schools — except operations —
and because they are of immense importance in
the analysis and treatment of human ills. They
are among the greatest factors as reflex causes
of disturbances, both mental and physiological.
We go back to Nature for guidance in this study
as we do in dietetics and all other departments
of our work. In diet we found the old carbo-
hydrate theory a failure and we set to work to
find why. We discovered that the proportions
of the carbonates and nitrophosphates were
bad. We found that when a baby nurses its
mother the proportions of C to NP are 2 to 1;
when it is weaned on cow's milk the C is de-
creased to a ratio 1 and 1/3 to 1. The carbo-
hydrate theory calls for a ratio of 4 to 1 or even
5 to 1. We found it requires four times as much
energy to handle C as it does to handle NP even
22 THE STOLEN WIFE
were they present in equal proportions. We de-
veloped our dietary chart from this start and
now we are able to prescribe foods so that we
know exactly how many grains of the essential
elements we are providing, naturally, while the
old-school doctors are giving grains, etc., of ar-
tificial preparations, mostly manufactured by pat-
ent medicine concerns.
In the sex disease proposition we found the
old doctors drugging and operating with the re-
sults given in the tabulated statement foregoing,
but persisting because they know of nothing else
and because there is big money in operations —
there should be less expense to the patient be-
cause it is all over quickly and she has to take
all the risks. We found doctors of divinity and
doctors of medicine teaching they should not in-
vestigate the sex question because the subject is
"obscene." We found them as ignorant as the
laity, too. We went back to Nature and found
that She made humanity male and female for two
purposes : Companionship and procreation. We
found they need each other, mentally and phy-
siologically, and when they obey the laws of Na-
ture in both respects they live longer and are
happier, thus proving the wise purpose of the
Creator. We learned many truths that are easily
proved. We learned that Nature begins to pre-
pare children for parenthood almost as soon as
they are born and at about the age^of fourteen
thev are able to conceive ; but we observed that
THE STOLEN WIFE 23
the first child of young parents is almost invari-
ably small and delicate, proving the need of edu-
cation, preparation, development. We found
that those who have been taught the sex sub-
ject is "obscene" are either lascivious or prud-
ish — practically the same thing. We found so
many interesting natural truths that it would be
impossible to enumerate them in a book. They
must be imparted in connection with general in-
formation in anatomy, physiology, chemistry,
mechanics, etc., as applied to the workings of the
body. Let it suffice to say that thousands who
have received instruction by graduates from our
school are well and happy, temperate in all
things, abstainers from none which are natural.
We have been slandered as ''free lovers" because
we have truthfully pointed out the awfulness of
the marriage state as it is advocated and prac-
ticed by "Christian" ministers and their flocks.
We reply that it is they who support the "red
light" districts; they who devised divorce that
they might dispose of their worn out women and
get others in a "Christian" manner. Neurology
is not an advocate of licentiousness — not even in
the family circle, where it is practiced orthodox-
ly. We are honest w T ith ourselves and with Na-
ture. We have received our information from
Her, with the proofs ; we are not ashamed of
it; we have not learned anything we cannot tell
any man, woman or child and we have never
made a nickel bv it.
DOCTOR AND PATIENT.
March 9, 1904, Amy N. Black presented her-
self for analysis and treatment for a condition
which had been too much for the old school doc-
tors, and she told me neurology was her last at-
tempt to secure health;' if it failed she would end
her existence rather than become a charge on
her friends. Physically her appearance was bad;
she was anaemic and neurasthenic and had al-
ways been ill ; she was tall, five feet eight inches,
slender and delicate. Her history during her en-
tire life, thirty-four years, was one of suffering;
she had been operated four times, three on her
sex organs and one on her kidneys — the same
old story of promises of cure and utter failure.
After Dr. Niles, of Salt Lake City, had removed
an ovary and performed curettage, the great lit-
tle humbug, Nicholas Senn, of Chicago, told her
mother and her that the other doctors were fools,
that all she needed was his kidney operation and
she would be well. They took his word and not
only allowed him to operate, but paid him for it ;
and when, after she not only failed to secure
what he promised but was made worse by the op-
eration and complained to him about it, he re-
plied indignantly that she would have to get used
to her new trouble.
THE STOLEN WIFE 25
Our nerve test showed her high line, 45 years
9 months ; safety line, 41 years 2 months ; danger
line, 36 years 7 months; low line, 32 years. Her
exact age that day was 33 years 6 months; 7
years 8 months below her high line and only
1 year 6 months above her low line. She was in
a condition which we consider beyond the "limit
angle" of Nature to help and as a rule we refuse
to touch such cases. But there was something
so attractive in her honest blue eyes, the key to
her mentality, that on the impulse I told her I
would take the case, on my own terms, only,
which were that if Nature succeeded in doing
what I believed possible through neurology my
fee would be considerable ; otherwise there would
be no fee. I wanted to study metaphysics prac-
tically, and here was the opportunity of a life-
time. She demurred, saying she was able to pay
for my services and would like to know the prob-
able expense. I explained how utterly impossible
it would be to set a fee in such a case and that
as a teacher of neurology I was more interested
in putting it to the severest tests for the benefit
of my pupils than I was in the fee. She there-
upon accepted my proposition and treatment was
begun. The first thing I found absolutely neces-
sary was to have another operation — irony of
fate sure enough, for we are against operations.
This time her teeth had to come out. If I had
seen her before the other operations there would
26 THE STOLEN WIFE
have been no need of any. I sent her to a dentist
"friend" who told her very promptly I was all
right on some subjects, but that I knew nothing
of dentistry. All she needed was to have her
teeth treated. I sent her to others until we found
one who really knew something and he found a
necrosis of the lower jaw, as I had told her,
which would soon have left it nothing but car-
tilage. He did the necessary work on the lower
jaw but disagreed with me as to the upper, only
to find later that neurology knew what it was
doing all the time — the uppers had to come. Aft-
er the first operation there was much relief and
from being compelled to remain in bed much of
the time with neuralgia she was soon practically
free from pain most of the time, and rarely had
to go to bed with it. She did not get along to
my entire satisfaction, however, so I advised her
to live at the college that fall, which she did for
two months, away from her family and in a
company of others who were companionable. In
eight weeks she acquired an appetite, a novelty
to her, and one which did much to arouse hope
and belief of eventual good health. She was
born on a farm in Saline county, Missouri, and
had been situated fortunately financially, so that
she had the benefits of contact with other girls
in a young ladies' seminary, while unable to
pursue the regular course of study, and after the
death of her father in 1890 she, with her mother
THE STOLEN WIFE 27
and sister had traveled much, hence she was an
interesting acquaintance because she had acquired
something superior to the ordinary education —
the capacity to observe and think. She exhibited
such dignity and poise that she commanded re-
spect and when those about her became ac-
quaint with her they all loved her — other
women particularly.
Up to this time but one thing had occurred to
interfere with the prospects of success. One
day during the summer I was sitting in my outer
office with my back toward the door, dictating to
my stenographer. Suddenly I heard a voice. It
said: "You are not doing my sister one bit of
good!" I turned and saw protruding above the
top of mjy desk a scrawny face, of uncertain
age, (47 now), with a sharp chin, thin lips drawn
tightly, little brown eyes and a shock of reddish
hair. It gave me. the shudders, but I replied :
"And who are you?" "I am Miss Belle Black,"
she snapped, and was about to say more when
I interrupted with : "Well, your sister looks bet-
ter than you do anyhow ; and I would not tackle
your case for money or anything else." I "spot-
ted" her at once as belonging in class "D" and
I did not miss the mark, as the sequel will show.
After a few verbal rounds she departed, my en-
emy, of course. Her class live for revenge for
either real or fancied injuries and they will sac-
rifice their best friends to accomplish their pur-
28 THE STOLEN WIFE
poses. They are always posers, with alleged
"consciences." The sequel will show the appro-
priateness of the word "alleged," too. When my
patient came on her next visit I told her of the
incident, when she begged me to take no offense
at the girl, for she had suffered a disappointment
in a love affair which the family were agreed
had affected her mind to some extent. Here was
the sympathy which distinguishes class "A," and
it was repaid in the most outrageous manner con-
ceivable. I knew in a general way the character-
istics of class "D," but I confess I had no con-
ception of the lengths they will go to accomplish
their ends until I had my experiences with this
creature.
My patient passed an uneventful winter and
gained steadily for a year. One day she tele-
phoned me she had another patient for me; one
who was afflicted with bleeding, from the nose in
dangerous quantities and who had been treated
by "regular" doctors for a long time without
avail; her mother. I had imagined the mother
must be a tall, slender, austere person, because
the girls were slender ; but, on the strength of the
information about the exhibit, my estimate re-
solved itself into a short, stout woman, of the
friendly type, and when she came I found I was
correct. The old lady was seventy-eight,
weighed one hundred and eighty-four pounds,
was about five feet two inches tall and was the
THE STOLEN WIFE 29
gentlest, sweetest woman I have ever known. We
became friends at once. When I explained to
her the cause of her troubles and how the ex-
hibit was her salvation, she saw the natural-
ness of it all and was the most faithful patient
I ever had, not even excepting her good
daughter. We soon reduced her weight thirty
pounds, increased the strength of the walls of
her blood vessels and stopped the bleeding.
Some weeks later, on one of her visits, Amy
informed me that her sister Belle wanted me to
examine and prescribe for her. I scented trouble,
but Amy had been such a good patient that my
friendship for her prompted me to take a chance
— the result was awful. Not directly from that,
but, if I had never made her acquaintance, had
obeyed my first impulse toward her and tabooed
her from the beginning, I would be happier to-
day — so would Amy.
On the first of September, 1905, Amy called
for her bill, saying I had earned a good fee and
she desired to settle. I told her she was not yet
up to the standard of safety, by actual measure-
ment, and she would better remain under treat-
ment. She then proposed to enter the college
as a student. I thought it a good idea as it would
give her a better opportunity to know how to
take care of herself and she would have a pro-
fession from the practice of which she could earn
her living, so she was accepted, paid her tuition
60 THE STOLEN WIFE
and was graduated with credit to herself and
to the college. After she had begun the work
her sister Belle concluded she wanted to enter
too. I again conceded a point with misgivings,
which were justified by her conduct in the class
and later. She proved lazy, indifferent, prudish,
and was not only unpopular among her class-
mates but was graduated by a "scratch" and only
because it was seen she would never attempt to
practice. She only attended to gratify her en-
vious soul by at least appearing as her sister's
equal. She was and is one of those who are
conscious of their dishonesty and hypocrisy in
a vague w T ay, hence are constantly suspicious of
others. In my school we teach anatomy, physiol-
ogy, therapy, etc., as all good medical schools
should, and we teach the respective importance
of each department, the sex department being of
particular interest because ours is the only school
which is natural all the way through. This prude
looked out of the window or stared at the floor
in a "properly embarrassed" manner (all the time
damning the fates for not bringing her a husband,
as the sequel will show), while all the other
eighteen in the class listened attentively, eagerly,
decently and became enlightened. The hussy
came into my private office on one occasion, with
Amy, and in a fit of hysterics, which showed
her mind was always on the sex subject, ac-
cused me of seducing her "baby sister" — (Amy
THE STOLEN WIFE 31
was the thirteenth child in the family) — thus ex-
pressing a lack of faith not only in me but in
Amy also. I have never seen a person so thor-
oughly shocked as Amy was on that occasion.
I very promptly and forcibly informed the in-
sulting prude that there were two reasons why
neither of them would ever be outraged: Amy be-
cause she was so dignified and good; she because
she was an impossible. That settled her for the
time., but she is a persevering devil, the waiting
sort.
As the time for graduation approached the ques-
tion of my fee was broached again by Amy. Her
sweet, quiet nature had become such a necessity
to me that I found myself dreading the coming
separation without realizing that there might be
a way to avoid it, until the fee proposition gave
me an impulse and I acted instanter. I told the
girl I hoped my claim would not be greater than
she would be willing to pay without protest be-
cause it meant all or nothing to me. I said:
"I want you to be my wife, my chum, my good
friend, my partner for life." It was a surprise
to her as it was to me, because we had regarded
ourselves as unusually good friends and that
was all : but she. too, found herself, told me T
honored her and gave me her premise. From a
hapless old widower I was immediately trans-
formed into a hopeful, happy young man.
The influence of the older girl, whom I had
32 THE STOLEN WIFE
come to regard as a she-devil, exhibited in the
timidity Amy expressed with reference to in-
forming her of our engagement. However she
finally accepted the inevitable and the other con-
gratulated me with a manner which suggested
snakes. I shivered but thanked her, looked at
the sweet face of my fiance and was happy.
When I proposed marriage the good girl
thought first of her duties toward her widowed
mother and disappointed sister (who had man-
aged to convince her that she put off marrying
a man — Dr. LeRoy Jones, Hoopeston, 111., to
whom she had been engaged, but who broke the
engagement, and married another — because
of her sense of duty). I assured my
sweetheart I had no desire to separate her
from her mother and would invite moth-
er and sister to make their home with
us. This gave her much pleasure, for she loved
her mother dearly and was on the most intimate
terms with her; much more so than the sister
could ever be, and she knew me well enough
to know that her mother and her prospective hus-
band were already pretty much in love with each
other — and it lasted until the dear old lady died
in my arms, August 14, 1909, aged nearly eighty-
three, with all her miental faculties working per-
fectly while the physiological ones simply ran
down, like a clock, and she died sitting in her
chair after a busy day about the house. Had
BELLE BLACK, THE MEDDLESOME.
A Disappointed Old Maid Who Caused Lots of
Trouble.
THE STOLEN WIFE 33
this calamity not befallen us the she-devil, with
all her plotting, would not have succeeded in her
diabolical designs. (Amy, under the mental dom-
ination of Belle, told a mutual friend last spring
that when mother died the anchor which held
her was raised.)
Soon after graduating the sisters left for the
old homestead, near Slater, Missouri, where
mother had been living with a son while the
girls were in college. Then the she-devil began
to work on the sympathies of her victim. If
she couldn't get a man she didn't want her
younger sister to. Had she been anything but
wholly "Bad" she would have been delighted
with her sister's happiness ; but it was and is her
nature, I presume ; she sowed the seeds of doubt,
insidiously, day after day, and the "Good" girFs
susceptible nature fell a victim. One letter
to me would express happiness and hopefulness
and the next would fill my soul with anguish, be-
cause I knew from whence the despondence
came. I knew my "Baby Girl" (as mother called
her when she gave her to me) needed me phy-
sically and mentally as much as I needed her
gentle, amiable influence in developing the great
system which had brought so much to us both,
so I finally addressed her as follows :
"Thursday, August 16, 1906.
"Dearest Amy — I love you so dearly that I
would sacrifice my happiness to protect you in
34 THE STOLEN WIFE
the enjoyment of all that is the just due to such
a soul as I believe you possess. In view of
recent occurrences I deem it best to make the
following statement for your perfect understand-
ing of the situation:
"I offer you an honest love; one that has
never proved false to a friend. Some alleged
friends have proved false to me, but I never
held others for that.
"I offer you a liberal mind. One that be-
lieves in honest investigation in every direction,
tempering it, I hope, with reason and judgment.
"I offer you a healthy body, a passionate one,
better controlled than 999,999 in every million
of men. This guarantees my wife protection
from the pains of maternity, except upon mutual
agreement.
"I offer you an earning capacity of about
$10,000 a year, with an accumulation of com-
paratively little because of expenses, robberies by
friends, etc., but if I should die my assets, in
copyrights, etc., would yield considerable, and if
I live a few years I hope to add something more
substantial.
"I offer you a half interest in my business
while I live and all of it afterwards. It has been
established by straightforward work, and in do-
ing this I have had to fight : First, prejudice in my
own family ; second, the animosity of physicians ;
third, the carelessness of graduates; fourth, the
antipathy of people whose views, religious and
otherwise, I could not agree with; fifth, robbery
by a brother mason; sixth, domestic infelicity;
seventh, a desire for information which inter-
fered with money-getting; eighth, a constant ef-
fort on the part of others to run my business
THE' STOLEN WIFE 35
or cause it to fail. I have conquered all. But
in doing it I have developed a quick, impulsive
manner of expression which some call irrasci-
bility. I fear I' could not 'turn the other cheek/
and, frankly, I do not think I should try. I
have had a long business career — thirty-five
years in forty-eight. I feel that I am a better
judge of what I ought to do in my business than
anyone else would be. I want peace so much
that I will fight to get it. I have gone on record
in the courts as 'cruel' in order to escape perse-
cution and to protect my friends from insult by
one who should have given me fealty and who
might have done so had I neglected my duties to
her and to myself to pay her homage and be
dishonest with myself and others. She com-
mitted perjury to put me on the record; but I
escaped. It is worth it.
"I am not in a position to retire honorably
or with a competence to support you and me as
I want to.
"I need a wife who is not hampered by ideas
that will antagonize mine at every turn. Who
will understand I want no secrets between us.
Who will not expect me to be an archangel until
I pass to the next sphere. Who will have the
faith in me that I give her. Who will be proud
of my fighting qualities when the cause is just
and who will, by gentle love, instead of pouting,
help me to let the naturally bright side of my
nature shine for her. Who will appreciate my
good intentions and not magnify mistakes until
they are crim;es. Who will study me before she
marries me, and if there are any qualities she
could not tolerate she will refuse to marry. Who
will also study herself and see if there be any
36 THE STOLEN WIFE
qualities in her which might require as much
forbearance on my part as my shortcomings will
on her. Who will come to me expecting to be
my equal in all things, inferior in none and su-
perior only in beauty of character, because she
does not have to do the fighting. Who will take
me to her breast and just hold me without a word
of censure when I have been 'naughty/ but who
will talk it over later without prejudice. Who
will devote her life to our mutual happiness
while I do the same. Who will not demand that
I attempt the impossible by changing all the
character I have to something possibly ideal
but certainly not practical. Who will realize
there is a healthv standard, mental and physio-
logical. Who will not assume that all conces-
sions should come from me should we chance to
differ. Who will put herself in my place when
she sees things to criticize.
"All I ask of her I pledge myself to observe
religiously. ■
"To me she shall be first, last and all the
time. I want to be the same to her.
"I have many faults, if one looks for them;
and if looked at through the magnifying glass
of prejudice or selfish desire for comfort, re-
gardless of extenuating circumstances, might be
considered great faults. Or, if viewed through a
minus lens, might appear trivial. If the woman I
love is settled in ways and beliefs and manners
that mine are revolting- to, she would be doing
herself a wrong to marry me, and I could not
ask such a sacrifice. If she thinks there is any
possibility of the marriage relation being dis-
tasteful to her in any respect she should not
take the step. It would be the part of wisdom,
THE STOLEN WIFE 37
however, I believe, to consider the possibilities of
a single life. Illness, with no one who could
give the tender care a loving husband can; age
coming on, with elders dying and leaving one
alone; a great love cast aside for fear of it not
being always heaven ; her own love sacrificed on
the altar of prejudice or suspicion, or dread, or
doubt.
'Then the matters of time and circum-
stances come in. Long engagements are bad
in several ways. Important considerations
should not be set aside for comparatively
trivial things, because she is interested in the
former as well as the latter as much as her
husband, while he is little concerned in the
latter — especially when he does not know w^hat
they are.
"The whole matter should be settled by a
talk, not by writing, for it is so easy to misin-
terpret the spirit or the letter of written mes-
sages.
"I have never in all my life met one whom
I esteemed so highly on first acquaintance. Who
after years of suffering retained such coolness
and exhibited such rare judgment. I loved you
(and always will) long before I told you of it.
I trust you above all women. I want you for my
wife and if I do not gain your complete love and
co-operation as to my immediate and remote
future, I will never allow myself to think of a
wife again.
"I offer you love, a home, health and happi-
ness, if I can fulfill my hopes. But when I am
reminded of my many faults I sometimes doubt
my ability to be all you could reasonably ask,
try as I might. I think I could be that with
some loving help and a spirit of forbearance
38 THE STOLEN WIFE
when you know I have no faults to find with
you. I think I have very great reasons for an
early marriage and I hope, if I am not too re-
pellant, you will consent to it. But remember,
my darling, your happiness first. I am as
worthy now, if not more' so, than I will be next
spring or months later. I have had about all
one man can stand and I need loving support
mentally instead of additional burdens. You
can give me what I ask — unless it is a sacrifice —
if it is don't do it.
"With an aching heart, full of love for you, I
am your most earnest lover. Charles."
Her reply was very satisfactory and I felt I
had won the battle finally. Within a month
mother and the sisters came to Chicago and es-
tablished themselves comfortably so that I saw
them daily. But the she-devil was still at work.
Several times I found my sweetheart in tears
when I called, and she told me she feared we
were making a mistake. I argued until it be-
came apparent I was making matters worse for
her and I took another tack: I offered to sacri-
fice myself and let her go to California, or any-
where, for a year. I told her how hard it
would be for me, but it would be better to take
a year to think it over than to make a mistake.
Her sympathies for me came to the front again
and she finally decided to marry me, stipulating,
expressly, that if either of us should ever tire
of the other, or if either should ever find some
THE STOLEN WIFE 39
one more congenial, that one would be honest
enough with the other to say so and we would
quit friends. I agreed, knowing well I would
never find anyone who could supplant her in my
affections for one minute — I never have and
never will.
We were married November twenty-seventh,
1906; her wedding ring has engraved inside of
it: "A life for a life," a little sentiment we con-
ceived in our happiness ; and I was disgracefully
happy for three and a half years in the belief
that it was for life.
Two days later came Thanksgiving and we
had mother and Belle with us for dinner. After
dinner and a couple of hours^ visit, I gave
mother her "orders" : She was directed to go
home and pack her belongings because she was
about to move ; she was coming to live with us —
and Belle was coming too. Mother made a
feeble protest, but love for her "baby" won and
she came to us cheerfully. I had many misgiv-
ings about Belle, but felt that two "Good" ones
in the house could hold one "Bad" one level;
and it was true in a measure, although she tried
my patience sorely many times. Once I was
compelled, for business reasons, to talk to my
wife and mother about her conduct and they
put a quietus, on her so far as insidious work
among the students was concerned. She still
sowed seeds of doubt in my wife's mind and did
40 THE STOLEN WIFE
it with malice, as shall be proved over her own
signature. She not only let her nature work to
make her sister unhappy but she violated the
laws of hospitality. In this she was aided and
abetted by. my own sister, Mrs. Carrie L. Rowe,
of Buffalo, N. Y., the wife of G. Allan Rowe,
M. D., a "genito-urinary" specialist and "man-
gossip" as will be proved. Both of these people
butted into this affair in an assassin-like manner,
without the slightest provocation, except that I
have entertained them repeatedly. They will be
attended to farther on in this work.
The success of neurology in the cases of my
wife and her mother, beside many others which
came under their observation, filled our mother's
soul with hopes that it might save one of her
sons, who, after graduating from the medical
department of the University of Pennsylvania
had become addicted to the use of cocaine and
opium, and after going - the limit, had caused
himself to be detained in a state institution in
the hope of breaking away from the stuff. (They
let him have it there just as usual. He was use-
ful in laboratory and other work, and they
wanted him to remain.) She expressed her
thoughts to her "baby" who was and is the
greatest part of mjy life; they were repeated to
me. There was nothing I would not undertake
for mother and the result was that her boy se-
cured a furlough of six months, came to visit
THE STOLEN WIFE 41
us, liked me and I liked him. Together we con-
quered his "dope" habit, and he is today the
dean of the faculty and one of the best teachers
in McCormick Medical College, which is equiva-
lent to saying one of the best in the world; a
manly man, proud of his accomplishment and
grateful to neurology and to me. He has had to
suffer for the latter, however, as the sequel will
show, and it is not creditable to Belle. This
villainous sister did her worst, to drive him back
to drugging, either from pure devilishness or
because she feared his re-establishment might
cause some changes in her mother's will which
was already made, and, by reason of my wife's
marriage, was largely in her favor, which was
agreeable to us. She talked about him, nagged
him, charged him with "toadying" to me and
otherwise irritated him until he came near doing
what she wanted; he did break over once for
two weeks, but by dint of some tall swearing on
my part and his own good sense we won again
and for good, although that unnatural sister has
said and has made my sweet wife say to Dr.
Crosby and others that he will fall again. I'll
be damned if he will. When we pulled out it
almost drove Belle to desperate measures ; but,
realizing that mother was being cared for as
could be done nowhere else, she contained her-
self until after mother left us, when she began
43 THE STOLEN WIFE
in earnest and in less than nine months accom-
plished her vile purpose.
In the meantime there was a grandson of our
good mother, the son of Nannie J. Croff, Seddlia,
Mo., who was an epileptic; and when mother
suggested that as we had cured others of the
same malady we might be able to do something
for him, I consented, stipulating, however, that
in order to insure the best results, I would have
to charge him a reasonable fee, which I set at
$500, the minimum for such cases. The family
agreed that was reasonable because it included
his room and board for at least six months. In
due time he arrived, accompanied by his mother,
a "grass" widow, having been deserted by Har-
vey Croff/ her husband, when her children were
small; for what reason I know not. The boy,
aged about twenty, was employed as telegraph
operator and assistant in the Missouri Pacific
train dispatcher's office at Sedalia, and was very
much in love with his work; his employer liked
him and expressed much interest in his prospec-
tive cure. Like many other relatives the boy was
hard to manage, and when, at the end of the
first week, he gave me a check for a hundred
dollars, with a lofty air, I laid it away because I
foresaw he would not conform to our rules and
would, very likely, have to be dismissed as an in-
corrigible. I decided, for love of wife and moth-
er, to give him extra time and he was permitted
to remain three months — the mother remained
THE STOLEN WIFE 43
one — during which time he paid $250 all told.
When he was finally dismissed, his mother had
gone home and his uncle, the despised brother of
my wife and able instructor in my college, took
the young man home at his own expense, for
which he has never received so much as a "thank
you." I mailed to the mother the original check
and draft her boy gave me because I knew they
would need the money to pay the "dope" doctors
when they were called to attend him in his fits,
as they were sure to return. I have never re-
ceived any "thank you" either; on the contrary
the boy's mother has aided and abetted the she-
devil in kidnapping my sweet wife from me.
During the following summer another char-
acter appeared on the scene in the person of my
own sister, referred to ante, who came to my
home on our invitation to recuperate after an
operation for "appendicitis," the fashionable
"disease" produced by bad living and reproduced,
after operation, by the same process. She was,
of course, accorded the best we had at our com-
mand. In return she ridiculed our methods of
practice in the presence of students, insisted on
such foods as were worst for her (but which
were supplied with all courtesy), until her dis-
loyalty and boorishness were the subject of re-
marks. Dr. Will Black, the despised brother,
knowing what our system had done for his sister,
his mother, himself and thousands of others, re-
44 THE STOLEN WIFE
sented her conduct and ceased to pay attention to
her, whereupon she, having discovered his sis-
ter's attitude toward him, committed the out-
rageous breach of good manners to complain to
my wife and Belle that Will was not treating her
right. Belle improved the opportunity to go after
him and reported to me. I let them fight it out.
When the complainant went home she had the
impudence to send him a book, which he did not
acknowledge, of course, and shfe complained
some more. But Will has survived that and
some more shots from that quarter, which will
be referred to later.
While this relative of mine was with us our
good mother died. She just uttered "I am so
tired" and expired in her chair. Her remains
were taken to Marshall, Missouri, for interment
in the family lot. On their return from the
funeral my wife, her devilish sister and the
brother united in expressing to me their appre-
ciation of the good home I had given mother
in her last years and said they could never do
enough for me — one of them, meant she could
never do enough to me, it appears now. Her
evident relief from responsibility when her
mother died was exhibited so cold-bloodedly that
some of our friends noticed it, as I learned later,
and my wife apologized for it by explaining that
"Belle never shows emotion at anything/' I be-
lieve that is correct. Not so my "Good" baby
THE STOLEN WIFE 45
girl. Her grief was pitiful. Night after night
she sobbed herself to sleep in my arms. I wept
with her. I sympathized with her and I loved
mother and missed her too.
Having enjoyed three years of my hospitality,
well-knowing that she could never have done so
but for my love of wife and mpther, Belle now
began to lay plans for her final blow at me and
at men in general. Her last chance had gone
glimmering a few weeks after mother's death
when Dr. W. S. Evans, of Kansas City, Mo., had
escaped her. He had been a student in my school,
had taken her out to the theatres a few times
and on one occasion had said something she
chose to construe into a proposal, but she made
one of her "smart" breaks at him and he retired
in good order. She then consulted the cele-
brated Bangs Sisters on the West Side, and their
"slate-writings" advised her to follow him. She
took my wife and did it. They went to Kansas
City to the home of our friends, the Crosby's,
and Belle asked Dr. C. to go after Dr. Evans.
He did so, and on the way to his home Dr. E.
volunteered the information that he had never
any serious intentions toward the lady. When
he met her she opened the subject again — this
female who was so shocked at sex teachings —
when he promptly replied. "Let us talk about
something else. I gave up all ideas of that sort
My wife told me of the con-
46 » THE STOLEN WIFE
versation as Belle had reported it to her. Both
were indignant at Dr. Evans. They should
roast the Bangs Sisters. I have been puzzling
all along over what she wanted a man for. My
only conclusion is that prudes are lewds. Neu-
rologists are neither.
The first symptom of her vile influence on
my wife exhibited in fault-finding. I have been
working like a Trojan for nearly or quite forty
years, particularly hard during the seventeen
years I have been at the head of a school and
making researches along medical lines, and I am
not always as patient as I might be, particularly
if I chance to hurt myself ; I sometimes swear —
but never at my wife — I adore her. She would
criticize me for not showing her "proper re-
spect"; then she would apologize the next day.
One evening one of these accidents occurred —
I struck my ankle against a chair rocker in the
dark. I swore. Who wouldn't? She reproved
me for my "disrespect" to her, and while I was
hurting I replied: "Oh! dear! you'll be apolo-
gizing to me for that tomorrow !" She retorted :
"No, I will not! I will never apologize to you
for anything !" and she has not, save once.
The influence continued. The criticism
grew. The habit grew. I was finally informed
I was "coarse," "unrefined." Knowing the true
source of the criticism, and not caring to be
misquoted, I wrote and submitted for their con-
THE STOLEN WIFE 47
sideration the following definitions of "refine-
ment" as I comprehend it:
"There are two kinds of refinement: Super-
ficial and deep. The first is a sort of veneer;
very bright on the surface; inclined to self-can-
onization; demands recognition of forms; sees
little but surfaces ; lacks deep sense of principles ;
wears out and exposes a coarseness beneath;
magnifies the faults of friends and harps on
them. The second often presents a rough ex-
terior, because of associations and environments,
possibly; often due to absence of thought of
self; sets principles above persons; does not
vaunt itself ; would rather be alone than be
nagged; would never consent to being false for
policy's sake; admires staunch traits, even in
enemies ; is always true to friends and frank
with enemies."
Without considering that I had any right to
resent constant criticism, this was taken as a
mortal insult — after interpretation by the she-
devil — and it was determined to go at once and
take her victim with her. But there was a hitch.
The poor girl did not want to go. She had been
deluded to a point where she had expressed
hatred of her brother and disregard for her
mother's well-known wishes that he remain with
us for his own and the school's good, but she
was not prepared to desert a good home and de-
voted husband. She exhibited such great dis-
tress, however, and begged so hard that I assist
48 THE STOLEN WIFE
her in her dilemma, even asking that I order her
out of the house, that I advised her to go away
for a visit, to go with her sister and visit her
other sisters, Mrs. Jerrold Letcher, of Salt Lake
City, and Mrs. L. O. Phillips, of Oak Park, Sac-
ramento, California. It was a great risk, but I
took it because I did not know what else to do.
Mrs. Letcher does not like me a little bit be-
cause, while she was enjoying my hospitality
with her two children, two years ago, one of her
boys, violating orders, fell fourteen feet down
stairs from sliding banisters and nearly killed
himself — while I was busy at work taking meas-
ures to prevent serious results she stood at my
side condemning my methods until I gave her a
good scolding, for which I was again criticized
by my wife. Mrs. L. has no particular love for
Belle, but she improved her opportunity to get
even with me when Belle presented it. The other
sister has no particular grudge at me, unless it
is for denying her the privilege of remaining at
the college with Amy when she was my
patient. For that Amy thanked me, saying:
"Betty is good, but she snores and if she had been
permitted to remain I could not get the results I
am sure I will." I have entertained Mrs. Phil-
lips at my home, as I have many other of my
wife's relatives in order to give her all the hap-
piness I could.
So it was decided to go on the visit and she
"MOTHER."
The Good Woman Who Would Not Approve her Daughters'
Conduct.
THE STOLEN WIFE 49
reported to Belle; but when I saw the sinister
gleam in those little brown pig eyes I felt in-
stinctively that I was about to lose my "baby
girl" for always unless she could be reached and
her reason snatched from the control of the
fiend who would sacrifice anything, even a sis-
ter's happiness, to gratify her own selfish love, to
put it in the mildest possible form.
The next events came thick and fast. Be-
ginning on April 14, 1910, after a conference
between the girls, they came down stairs, and,
my wife speaking, the other standing saucily at
her side, I was informed that unless I dismissed
their brother from the school and the house at
once they would both leave, as they could not
endure him. I replied very promptly that the
school could not stand such a shock as they de-
manded and refused to do it. They at once be-
gan to pack their belongings, while I, stunned at
such conduct on the part of my wife, who had
professed such interest in the school and the
system which had done so much for her, and
love for the man who was overworked and needed
the help to keep from breaking down with his
load. She had always — with the little excep-
tions of fault-finding — been to me a dear, loving
and loved companion, dignified and my pride in
company, and a big, sweet baby in our own
apartments. I retired to my office to think, and
I wrote the following on 'The Situation."
50 THE STOLEN WIFE
"I am a man of faults. Grievous faults. I
swear when provoked. Some would say it is
justifiable, sometimes at least. Others would say
it is never warranted. All right. I have never
professed to be perfect or anywhere near it. It
cannot be. denied however, that I have some vir-
tues. In the muss now being enacted I am at
fault in being, without ability to help it, obnox-
ious to my wife. She says she hates me some-
times, and then again she says she doesn't. She
has talked of leaving me. She appears to want
to go and to not want to go. Thinking to help
her in her dilemma, I propose she go away for a
time on a visit and see if she can get along bet-
ter without than with me. Her sister steps in
and charges me with 'throwing her back on her
relatives' whatever that may mean. This be-
cause I-said I did not believe she would ever re-
turn, once she is away. Because conditions in
my business are such and always will be such
that I have to meet them on the spur of the
moment and I do it as my judgment warrants —
only to be criticized by those who know little or
nothing of business. The strangest part of it
all is that at the solicitation of the two girls and
their mother, I undertook the task of helping
their brother in the matter of his habit, and
accomplished it with considerable sacrifice and
now stand charged with caring more for him
than I do for my wife ; and that by his own sis-
ters ; by my wife. These sisters now propose
that he shall go or they will go. It leaves me no
alternative. I cannot get along without him un-
less I sacrifice the school or my own health or
both. This argument has no effect on them.
He must go or they will go. I can't kill my
THE STOLEN WIFE 51
school, because I would have to begin life all
over. They choose to interpret this as 'order-
ing' them out of the house."
I submitted the above to my wife with the
additional argument that her loved mother wanted
Will to remain with us and that after I had done
so much she owed it to herself, to mother's mem-
ory and to me to remain and let Belle go. I
added, incautiously, that Belle was the sole dis-
turber anyhow, that if she would let her brother
alone he would not be "grouchy."
I also submitted the following "Criticism of
a Critic":
"This is not a defense of anyone. It is pure-
ly a criticism of a chronic and intolerant critic.
Belle is a conceited prude who assumes a holier-
than-thou, think-on-a-high-plane, more-compe-
tent-to-attend-to-your-affairs attitude that has
palled on me a long time. She w r as the first to
endeavor to influence you (Amy) to require me
to cease teaching sex ills in my school. It was
she who talked to students until it came to my
ears, and I had to go to you and mother and tell
you if you could not stop her she would have to
go. It was she who kicked up one of the big
rows with Dr. Feige (an assistant), when I
swore at him in the presence of the students —
defending her, too. Then she criticized me for
swearing. She has picked at Will, finding fault
with him for asking questions at the table, call-
ing him a 'toady/ etc. That is where she has
has an insiduous influence over you and made
52 THE STOLEN WIFE
you act in a manner I never thought you could
do. She has comie to me dozens of times in
your presence and told me she was going to talk
to Will and tell him a few things. I stopped it
whenever I could by telling her she ought to
know she would only roil him. She has been a
thorn in his side and has kept me terrified lest he
would be goaded back to 'doping'. She has al-
ways boasted of what she has done — a poor sort
of sisterly charity. Only last night she pro-
posed to him that he leave the house as a way
of settling the trouble. At the same time she
told himi I had said to her yesterday morning
that I had to take care of him. Now she said
that with one of two deliberate purposes : One
to make him sore at me by insinuating that I said
he was unable to take care of himself ; the other
to rub it in on him, What I said to her was :
He, having always worked under directions, need-
ed them, and as I would have no others to look
after I would take care of Bill and the school.
So you can see, if you will, that she is malic-
ious. I have always felt that she dominated you
and that she was a bad prospect on account of
her comments on my swearing and teachings, and
that sooner or later she would bring us trouble ;
but I took the chance because mother was here
and needed her and you needed company. She
told m'e yesterday that she would have been gone
long ago, but that she would not leave mother.
That's where you stand with her. She is an
insulting hussy, and if I ever open on her I will
give her as good as she sends or drop dead try-
ing. She is one of the cowardly kind who do
their dirty work under the pretense of friend-
ship and who takes advantage of the fact that
THE STOLEN WIFE 53
she is a woman to do things to men that would
not be tolerated a minute in another man by a
man. This is my criticism of a contemptible,
underhanded critic. April 14, 1910.
That evening, during the process of gather-
ing up her clothing for packing, Amy kept re-
peating to me a story she had told me time after
time — a pure invention of Belle's — that her
brother was having a bad influence over me by
talking badly to me about her. I had informed
her as repeatedly that the idea was nonsense,
that neither her brother nor anyone else had
ever said anything to me of her save in praise;
that none would dare to. She insisted she knew
better. I retorted: "IT IS A LIE"! Under
the tutelage of the she-devil this has been dis-
torted into my calling her a "liar." Immediately
following that occurrence, and after a confer-
ence with Belle, my wife told me she was going
to leave for good ; that I had ordered her out of
the house ; that she would go where I could not
find her and would leave no address. I was
pretty well worked up by that time and I re-
plied: "OH! YOU CAN GO PLUMB TO
HELL IF YOU WANT TO." Not an elegant
expression I coniess; but it was timely. This has
been twisted into my telling her to "go to hell,"
when I only said she could go if she so willed.
This is the only "quarrel" we ever had. This
was not the cause of her leaving, because it had
54 THE STOLEN WIFE
already been decided to go; but the she-devil
wanted to leave with a fuss so she could be sure
to keep my girl and punish me. Yet the after-
noon before they left the poor dear came to me
in my office as I lay on a couch, and, sitting
down beside me said: "I don't want to go away
from you" ! I replied. "Bless your dear soul, I
don't want you to go. This whole affair is
fairly killing me." But the she-devil took her
two days later.
The next morning the two arose and went
out to a hotel for breakfast; a deliberate plan
of Belle's to advertise the trouble to the students
and so work on her sister's pride she would
crush her love for husband and home. They
also went out for dinner; but their despised
brother talked to Amy in the afternoon, she
apologized to me for the discourtesy and they
remained for supper and breakfast and dinner
the next day.
Just as they were leaving my wife took me
into our room, and told me I had always been
good to her and that she would always be grate-
ful for it all. I begged her to remain and she
replied with an air of despair: "I can't." I
ventured to say she was being hypnotized, but
it had beeen done so thoroughly that the word
against the she-devil who did it ended it and she
was gone. It was the shock of my life. The
slugging I got at the hands of his cowardly
THE STOLEN WIFE 55
policeman when I published the fact that the
mayor of Chicago married a negress, when all
the dirty scandal-monging papers concealed
the story for blackmail and other purposes,
was a bagatelle alongside the blow my wife
gave me on orders from Belle Black, who, by
the way, said later that I deserved the slugging
I got for exposing the outrageous conduct of
a public official, Mr. Rosevelt's friend.
SIGNS OF WAVERING.
My wife was led away on April 16th. I
grieved to distraction, could do nothing but wait
and hope. I did not believe my "baby" could be
kept under the devilish influence long, because
the sister often vexed her until she would give
the wretch a scolding; but the latter would take
it so meekly Amy would repent and weep over it
in my arms.
As she left she told me she would go to the
home of a friend, Mrs. Flavilla Wood, 5910
Michigan avenue, for a few days and then go
west. This, after declaring she would go and
leave no address, was to me an encouraging fea-
ture, so I waited, but did not write her or bother
her in any way. The she-devil, Belle, even con-
strued this into an expression of gladness at her
departure. As they left, on Saturday the 16th,
Amy demanded all of her pictures in my posses-
sion, but I persuaded her to leave me one inas-
much as she had two of mine. The devil got in
some more work, and, as my pictures were said
to be packed in boxes, they went to the photog-
rapher and had copies made ; then, on the follow-
ing Wednesday, April 20th, they came to the
house, my wife bringing the pictures and giving
me to understand they were the ones she had in
THE STOLEN WIFE 57
her boxes (one of them having the appearance
of being taken from a frame), demanded that I
surrender hers. The she-devil remained outside,
out of sight. I led my "baby" into the library,
closed the door and prayed to her to remain at
home. She replied: "The man I married is
dead; I have no respect for you. You have
treated mie worse than I was ever treated in my
life." This was such a surprise, after what she
had told me when she was taking her leave a few
days before, that I was shocked beyond expres-
sion. I took her in my arms in spite of her pro-
tests and reminded her that only a few days be-
fore she had told me I had always been good to
her. I got her to the point where she laid her
head on my shoulder and cried softly. At that
moment Belle opened the library door and said:
"I have the picture." She had gone into my
office and stolen it while I was arguing with my
wife. At the sound of her voice Amy broke
away from me and began a tirade about how my
school would now go to wreck, etc., I turned my
attention to the viper at the door and asked her
if she knew she was liable to arrest for larceny.
It frightened them both and my wife hastened
to wish me well, after which they departed. It
may be imagined I was desperate ; as they passed
out of the door I told the she-devil I hoped she
would drop dead before she could get into the
car. To which she replied in her characteristic
58 THE STOLEN WIFE
manner: "I wouldn't spit on you/' This from
the person who described me as "coarse." This
from a person who had saved a thousand dol-
lars, at least, in the three years she had lived at
my house, always talking about paying board, I
always refusing to accept it because my wife
wanted her with us and I wanted my wife to be
happy.
These are small details, but they are what
make up any story and the smallness as well as
the largeness of people exhibits in their little
acts.
The next day I received the following letter
from my wife:
"Charles — When in the library yesterday it
seemed to me there was something missing about
the piano, and as I may have forgotten to tell
you that I did not take any of the presents given
us by your students or your family and as they
can easily disappear, or find their way into the
pawnshop I will enclose a list. (She did.) Are you
willing that the money which Belle so often
tried to pay you for board, but which you claimed
she did not owe, and that her doing the market-
ing was worth more than her expense, shall be
paid to me? One who tried hard to be a good
friend, Amy."
The marketing mentioned is now being done
in twenty minutes each day. I sent her the fol-
lowing letter immiediately by special delivery,
THE STOLEN WIFE 59
because her evident interest in me and my wel-
fare encouraged me to hope I would win her
away from the devil :
"April 23, 1910.
"To 'One Who Tried Hard to be a Good Friend' :
"My Dear 'Baby Girl 5 : I take the above,
signed to your letter, to mean that you believe
you have made a failure and that it is, somehow,
my fault; and this, coupled with your statement
to me Wednesday, that you no longer respect me,
that the man you married is dead, prompts me to
beg a reply to the following questions :
"1. Is it because I have stuck to my work
and won, despite all sorts of odds against me, or
"2. Is it because I took your case six years
ago, after the dopers and operators had reduced
•you to within a few months of your dead-line,
and won fairly good health for you, or
"3. Is it because I did this without
thought of anything but the success of neu-
rology — even to specifying I would accept no
fee unless I got results in spite of all the dam-
age the other fellows had done and charged
for with great promises, or
"4. Is it because Belle abused me the first
summer by calling at my office and in the pres-
ence of my stenographer telling me I was doing
you no good, when I told her you looked better
than she anyhow, and that I would not take her
case on any terms, or
"5. Is it because I, later, at your request,
made an examination of her and prescribed for
her, telling you I would not do it for her, or
"6. Is it because she, later, rewarded me by
accusing me of seducing you, or
60 THE STOLEN WIFE
"7. Is it because I, later, took her into my
home and tolerated her for your sake and moth-
er's when she was constantly 'grieving' over the
sex teachings of my school and threatening to
leave us, thus worrying you and mother, or
"8. Is.it because she uttered such 'refined'
language here the other day when she to!d me,
just after she had committed a theft from my
office, she 'wouldn't spit on' me, or
"9. Is it because I have kept my nose to the
grindstone and have paid right along an expense
of $9,000 a year, or
"10. Is it because at your and her and moth- '
er's solicitation I took your brother and helped
him conquer a bad habit, or
"11. Is it beause I have entertained your
people in the hope it would keep you from being
lonesome, even to tolerating Sally Letcher's
boorish boys and being scared out of a day's
work when one fell over the banister and nearly
killed himself — for fixing him I got a roast from
his mother and a criticism from yourself because
I roasted back, or
"12. Is it because I have, by my discoveries
stopped operations for cross eyes, muscular
insufficiencies, etc., that I am unworthy of your
respect, or
"13. Is it because I have developed a system
that is relieving thousands of human beings of
suffering yearly, or
"14. Is it because I have been through all
sorts of trials and still retain my senses, or
"15. Is it because I have, a few times, re-
sented what I felt was unjust criticism, made at
an inopportune moment, when I felt my physical
condition was such as to entitle me to some con-
THE STOLEN WIFE 61
sideration — even if I swore when I hurt my-
self or was irritated mentally over some of my
business cares, or
"16. Is it because, as you testified the day
you left me, when you told me good-bye, that I
have always been good to you, or
"17. Is it because I have always been loyal
to you to such an extent you called me 'Senti-
mental Tommy/ or
"18. Is it because you do not feel quite
right for deceiving me about the pictures you
brought here Wednesday, saying you had 'dug
them out of your trunk/ when you were right
from the photographer's with them new, or
"19. Is it because you feel that you have
done yourself and the one who loves you most
a great wrong and are too lacking in moral cour-
age to say so and forget it all, or
"20. Is it because you told me that I de-
stroyed our letters when you were away last fall,
as part of a scheme to get rid of you, when we
had an agreement that if either tired of the other
we would say so and quit without a fuss ? You
know in your soul that I only destroyed the un-
pleasant ones and saved the other ones for you.
You confess you destroyed them yourself.
"21. Is it because, my darling, you are undei
an evil spell?
" I could add many more questions, but I do
not care to now, as I simply plead my cause and
the great love I have always given and now
offer to you, with the best care I can give and
'everything to hope for, physically and every
other way. I want you at HOME.
"Tenderly loving and hoping, yours.
"Charles "
62 THE STOLEN WIFE
On the 27th I received the following:
"Charles— ^1 have your letters and wish to go
into them fully, which is impossible, situated as 1
am. It does seem to me you could not fail to
understand my position in the present situation;
seeing you -made your choice, and circumstances
which led up to it proved to me your stand;
and I am sure what is for the good of the cause
m[ust be satisfactory to all interested. I shall
keep all the points in hand and when I reach
some quiet place where I can I will try and show
how it looks to me, and the utter surprise this
has all been to me, for I tho't we had so much
more than the average couple to bind our lives
together. Sincerely, Amy."
No reply to my twenty-one questions has ever
arrived. The devil is still in the ascendancy. I
had not replied to the above when I received the
following by messenger at noon of the 29th :
"Dear Charles — I would like to have a little
talk with you and as writing is very unsatisfac-
tory, could you meet me at the Palmer House
(parlor floor) at 12:45? If the hour is incon-
venient let me know by the boy; I will be here
waiting his return. Sincerely, Amy."
With a heart leaping for joy I beat the mes-
senger boy to the hotel, where I spent an hour
pleading with her to come home, arguing that we
had no quarrels, that it was all Belle's nagging
of her brother, and that now, with one of the
disturbing elements away, we could try it with
the alleged other one present and if the discord
THE STOLEN WIFE 63
continued we would let him go if it killed the
school. She refused to consent to return under
those conditions; declared her brother was a
v villain and she would never have anything to do
with him. Sorrow-stricken I parted from her
once more and the next day, April 30th, I wrote
her:
"Amy Dear : I have been puzzling over why
you sent for me yesterday, after telling me last
Wednesday week that the man you loved and
married is dead. I think I have found the solu-
tion. Here it is : You love me. Your great'
soul behind the sweet face tells you that you
made a mistake in leaving as you did under the
wilful misinterpretation of what I wrote on
The Situation/ It tells you that no honest soul
could ever find a line or a word that could be
construed to mean that I wanted you to go at
all. The most that could be found is that I, see-
ing your condition, hearing what you had to say
about your feelings for me at times, recom-
mended that you go for a visit; but ex-
pressed the fear and belief that if you once
went you would never come back, because
of the influences against it that you would
be under. You wanted to see me yesterday,
but when you saw me your prejudices came
to you again and you told me two stories :
First that you are going to get a position and
work; second that you are going to California;
that you have written you will be there soon.
You told me I did a dishonorable act in acquir-
ing your negatives from the photographer but
had to laugh when I told you it was no worse
64 THE STOLEN WIFE
than your going to him and getting prints from
mine and palming them off on me as the ones
you have in your trunk. You did your noble
soul a discredit when you expressed your hatred
for your brother to the extent that you declared
you will never come back while he is here, even
when you know that to send him away now,
when I am worked down would be a hardship
on the students, on me and would hurt the school.
You refused to put the matter to the only possi-
ble test, namely, to come and try home for a
week, or a month, or three months, with one of
the disturbing elements away, on my promise to
get rid of the other one if it still disturbs, thus
putting yourself on record as either deliberately
insincere or under some influence that does not
permit you to do as your better judgment dic-
tates. If you love your husband you will write
to him at once to come for you and we will bury
the past few weeks and be happy. If you don't
love him you will go on away and you will not
hear from him or be bothered in any way
further — but he will keep on worshipping the
great soul he found behind the face, and still
refuse to believe it is a mask concealing a rank
hypocrite who used him for a convenience and
then tossed him aside as she would a withered
flower. He has the faces everywhere about the
house, on his desk, in his watch, on his bureau,
everywhere, and he just loves and loves and
loves, and hopes and hopes and hopes. He hasn't
had a minute's hard feelings toward you — only
deepest sympathy and sorrow. Yours while life
lasts. Charles. "
At this point in the proceedings it seemed
Amy, When She was Graduated from the
McCormick College.
THE STOLEN WIFE 65
advisable that some of the relatives be informed,
and I sent the next letter to Samuel L. Black,
on the old homestead, in Saline county, Mo., the
brother who has managed the family finances
since the death of the father, in 1890, and has
been particularly good to the girls, in return for
which the viper, who took my sweet wife away,
tried to make trouble for him by advising his
wife she should get a divorce because he de-
clined to leave the farm on Belle's advice for the
benefit of a town training for his children. She
was so angry about it that she told me he had
scandalized the family by his amours, before his
marriage and had finally married a girl who was
beneath the family standard. Copies of the letter
were also sent to Salt Lake City and Sacramento
sisters :
"Some Things a few People Ought to Know:
If there was ever a she-devil on earth its name
is Virginia Belle Black. A hypocrite of the first
water; a sanctimonious busybody who does the
most contemptible things under pretense of at-
tempting to do good ; a female who takes advan-
tage of the fact to do things which would cause
her head to be shot off were she a male ; a gossip,
who, for three and a half years has sat at my
table, lived in my house, accepted my hospitality,
pretended for the purpose of making an im-
pression on her mother, that she loved her
brother Will, and pretended to be grateful to
me for aiding him in overcoming a bad habit ;
then, as soon as her mother was gone and she had
66 THE STOLEN WIFE
the bulk of her money, began scheming to per-
suade my wife, her sister, to desert me, and fin-
ally worked her up to the point of hatred for
their brother that she told me I must either
throw him out or they would leave. She made
Amy say. she and Belle would never have done
anything for Will but for mother's sake. Now
that mother is gone thev do not respect her well-
known wishes, yet they pretend they loved her.
It is all in keeping with what Belle said about
her sister Sally (wife of Jerrold Letcher, clerk of
the U. S. court, Salt Lake City), viz: 'She did
not want mother at her house because she was
ashamed of her/ It is in keeping with what she
said about Sam, who has looked after her in-
terests like a father: 'We told Iza (Sam's wife)
to get a divorce.' She said: 'Sam is trying to
get Dave (a brother in Slater) to make a will
giving his money to his (Sam's) children/ It
looks as if she wanted Dave's money herself. It
is in keeping with what she tells about Mr.
Phillips, of Qak Park, California, putting red
pepper where it would cause inconvenience to
his wife, just for petty spite. It is like a good
many other things she has said and done. I
knew her all the time. I 'spotted' her the first
time I ever met her, and told her so then. She
never forgave me and has now, temporarily, got
even — by wrecking her sister's happiness. Amy
says this is not true, that she doesn't care for
me. I asked her why in a series of questions
to which she has not replied, but she has given
other evidence that she cares a lot for me. Amy
may have ceased to love me. She may be all
she says she is — the originator of the plan to
get away ; but when I look at her picture I can't
THE STOLEN WIFE 67
believe that sweet face is a mask covering one
of the vilest of human natures; I insist she is
under a devilish influence that would sacrifice
her rather than see her enjoy what she (the
devil) will never get by daylight — a husband.
She even makes Amy say to me that Will has
me under his influence, when Amy knows he
irritates me sometimes with a tendency rather
to the opposite effect ; but I can use him in my
work and he is all right when Belle is not here
to nag the life out of him about 'how he mis-
treated mother' and a lot of other things of
which the less said the sooner mended. She
even irritates Amy until she breaks out and
scolds — then the hypocrite says nothing but
looks humble and Amy relents and has cried
about it in my arms many a time. Damn that
hypocrite. I have told her I will put in some
licks getting even and I will carry it to the
limit if I have to publish a 'Novel Novel, or
the True History of a She-Devil.' To fix the
responsibility for this I subscribe, Charles Mc-
Cormick."
About this time there was a disappearance.
I wrote my wife asking her to take a trip to
Milwaukee with me for a few days to see if
we could not adjust our affairs outside of others'
influences; but I received no reply. I learned
later, that as soon as my sister, Mrs. 'G. Allan'
Rowe, 355 Utica street, Buffalo, N. Y., heard of
the trouble, by letter from the girls (Belle
knowing they were reporting to people who
having criticised and complained of Will, while
68 THE STOLEN WIEE
in my house), she telegraphed them to visit
Buffalo at once. The reason will appear later.
She chose her way and she will have to take
the consequences, as will also her 'man gossip'
husband, 'G. Allan' Rowe, a 'genito-urinary'
doctor, of Buffalo, who three years ago had to
spend about ten thousand dollars to get out of
a charge of using Uncle Sam's mails for queer
purposes. This scoundrel, whom I have never
harmed in any manner whatever, except to
arousd his jealousy at my success in legitimate
lines, improved his opportunity to gossip, and
told my wife that I am a "sex pervert/' when
he knows absolutely nothing about me that
could be construed to my discredit. Such an
idea could only originate in the mind of a
genito-urinary doctor, and he has laid himself
open to prosecution for criminal libel by ad-
mitting in a letter to me that he said it. When
Mrs. McCormick told a mutual friend of that
speech she added : "I have never regarded
Dr. Rowe as a normal man, from what I have
seen and heard of him." He belongs to a
very common breed, evidently.
To this mutual friend my wife also said that
she would return to me except for the fact that
it would be an admission that Belle was in the
wrong. On May 5 she wrote me:
"Dear Charles — I received your letters and
am not at this time attempting to answer them;
THE STOLEN WIFE 69
as I told you before it would be impossible under
my present circumstances to do that. Then it
is unsatisfactory to attempt to reach any com-
mon ground by letter. Do not worry about me
or my present situation, for I am perfectly well,
for which I am most thankful. Sincerely,
Amy."
May 8th I wrote her:
"Amy Dear — Here are a few things you will
be heartily ashamed of when your love for your
husband overpowers the vile influence you are
under :
"1. The wilful and false assumption that I
ordered you out of the house.
"2. Your conduct with reference to your
meals the day after it was decided to go.
"3. The return here after the picture, the
abuse you gave me, telling me the man you mar-
ried is dead.
"4. The deception about the pictures and the
charge that I am and was dishonorable because
I wanted your picture badly enough to lie to the
photographer to get the negatives.
"5. In declaring I had mistreated you worse
than anyone ever did before ; in declaring that
A married you for help and hadn't found it, so
didn't want you any more, when I was begging
you to not go all the time you were abusing me,
and was trying to convince you that I had never
said a word about your going away from me
for good.
"6. The charge that Will has me hypnotized,
when you know that I made my school a suc-
cess fifteen years before I ever saw him; and
70 THE STOLEN WIFE
you know he often antagonizes me, hence has
no influence.
"7. The expressed hatred for Will is being
untrue to your mother's memory and puts you
and Belle in the light of catering to mother to
get her money — as soon as she is gone you
cease to respect her wishes.
"8. You do not answer my letters — you can't
— yet you write that you want to talk with me.
I offer a plan and am ignored. I refuse to be-
lieve that my 'baby girl' has it in her soul to
do all these contemptible things. It is she who
is under the bad influence of a she-devil. When
she comes to herself she will find a loving wel-
come at home. I do not believe she would wor-
ry anyone wilfully, even an enemy, as she has
worried her husband during the last three weeks.
If she would and did it wilfully and maliciously,
she is indescribable. I can't believe it. Loving
and hoping, Charles. "
May 9th I received the following:
"Dear Charles — I received your note in Buf-
falo, asking me to go to Milwaukee. I did not
answer because I was just starting for Chicago.
I am, quite tired after a busy visit and some
sight-seeing. Later, after a little rest, if de-
sirable we might arrange a meeting. If you
wish I will drop you a line. Sincerely, Amy."
On her arrival in Chicago she sent for a mu-
tual friend, Dr. Shoults, to meet her at the Pal-
mer House. The following letter tells what oc-
curred there :
"May 10. Amy Darling— Dr. Shoults told
me last night of his talk with you and among
THE STOLEN WIFE 71
other things he said you told him that if you
came back it would be admitting Belle is to
blame. Would you sacrifice your happiness and
mine for so small a proposition? He also said
you appear very bitter at Will and blame him
for the trouble, saying that he asks me ques-
tions at the table and thus 'toadys* to me. Would
you stay away from your husband because of so
small a thing as that? He says that while you
and he were talking and you were crying, Belle
came over and said: 'I don't want you coming
here making my sister unhappy.' While she was
here she constantly roasted Will for advising
you against going and said she didn't want him
to talk to you. I rather think she didn't. She
realized her position was so weak that Will,
even, might make you see it. Will says for you
and me to sacrifice him, any way to get together.
Does Belle say as much? Which has done the
most for you, Belle or me? Which do you love
most? I say if you will be happier with Belle
than with me we will not quarrel about it, but
I will step aside and wish you all the good you
can get out of it. But I love you, dear, and I
am sure that some day you will awake to dis-
cover that Will's offenses are only grouchiness,
which make him unpleasant often, but that
Belle's are 'butt-in-skiness.' I know, not from
him but from my own observation, that she
was the aggressor nearly always. I can prove
it by specific items. One is that she assumes
a guardianship over you and presumes to tell
Will and Dr. Shoults not to talk to you. I
ought to sue her and bring the matter all out
in court; but I spare her on ypur account be-
72 THE STOLEN WIFE
cause I love you so much. Sorrowfully,
Charles."
The next day I received a letter from Belle,
the she-devil. It is signed, "with malice toward
none." Every paragraph in it breathes malice.
She even boasts her power over Amy when she
says : "You do not increase Amy's respect for
you in making false charges," referring to my
calling her a "she-devil," etc. But the letter
will tell its own story. It is given verbatim, save
the little cramped writing, which indicates her
character :
"5910 Michigan Ave., Chicago, May 10, 1910.
"Dr. McCormick : In regard to the charge that
I have influenced Amy against you, I am con-
tent with a clear conscience ; but it may be best
that I state the fact of my absolute innocence on
this point, emphatically, in black & white. I have
promised myself all along to do this — 'thinking
possibly the time might come when you could
attend with fairness to my statement of a few
facts. I do not know that the time has, or will
come — it appears hopeless. But here are the
facts :
"Until three days before I left your house I
had spoken no word of criticism against you to
Amy, not one. I had no wish to.
"I have been amazed at your injustice & un-
reason, & regret that I was so disgusted with it
when we parted as to express it in contemptuous
words. I only mean that I regret the words —
injustice & false accusations will, no doubt, al-
ways disgust me & I can't regret that.
Amy, Ready for an Outing.
THE STOLEN WIFE 73
"I was surprised, sadly, a few weeks ago,
when Amy said to me (we had been speaking of
an old friend of ours, one who is an old maid
[herself] because she could not forget an early
love affair) — words to this effect; 'I think you
who had early disappointments are so much bet-
ter off than w T e who married/ Imagine — stop &
think five minutes — what it would mean to have
one whose happiness is dear to you so reveal an
unhappiness vou had not guessed ! [truly remark-
able]
"I certainly hoped she had made no mistake
in marrying you, & surely I could have no reason
for wishing to separate you. I have wondered
so many times what reason you supposed I could
have. You certainly gave me a comfortable
home & a life of ease. Why should I wish to
deprive her & myself of greater comfort than
we had known before (in a material sense), or
shall expect again?
"And after your troubles were made known
to me, I was a friend to you both, & made every
suggestion I could think of to prevent a hasty
separation, fearing it might wreck your mutual
happiness. Knowing I had been mentioned to you
by Will as the cause of your trouble I offered to
go away (to which you objected) ; then I sug-
gested that you take the board money I owed
you & take Amy on a trip — you said you could
not leave your business ; then as the best avail-
able plan it was decided she & I go on a trip
to Cal. — which I had suggested, hoping she
might feel differently when she came back. You
upset this plan — 'Besides', I said to her Svhile
people are sometimes unhappy together, they are
more so when separated' — But when she said
74 THE STOLEN WIFE
she would rather be buried alive than stay there
under the circumstances, I felt I could do no
other than I did — simply help her pack up her
little possessions & get away.
"It is painfully hard for her of course, (noth-
ing hurts: worse I think that to find our ideal so
different from the real) & as a human being I
dislike to see it made unnecessarily hard: — as
seemed to me the case Sund., when Dr. S. told
her of your grief — as it appeared ta him. That
was my only reason for saying I did not wish
him to make her unhappy. Perhaps he forgot
to tell you that I also said that I did not wish
any consideration for me to have the least in-
fluence in keeping Amy from going back to you
if she wished, & that her judgment & feeling
should decide that.
"Of course, he, you, & Will, may, so far as
I am concerned talk to her whenever she likes.
I am no guardian.
"Your charge that I am a 'butt-in-sky' is,
like many others wholly without support in
my conduct : I care nothing about them. But
I offer you the friendly hint that you do not
increase Amy's respect for you in making false
charges, calling names, &c — She read this to
me a few days ago from 'Fra Elbertus' —
'When you call a man a bad name, you are that
thing, not he/ You will need no help in guess-
ing what caller of bad names she had in mind.
"No one regrets more than I that you could not
make her happy. I hoped for it, wished for it, & did
all I could to that end. Nor do I blame you
thorny, for I do not believe you can be just
yet that self-controlled, & always plainly honest
man she believed you could & would be. But
THE STOLEN WIFE 75
you have high ideals, & you have already some
of the best qualities a man can have — kindness
in some ways to one you love ; generosity toward
all (financially) ; & your appreciation of & good-
ness to our dear mother, we shall always be
glad to remember. Please do not think me un-
appreciative of your kindness to me — for I am
not ungrateful, altho your great injustice makes
me forget it sometimes.
"No, I did not roast Will for advising Amy
against leaving you; nor do nor say about forty
other contemptible things you charge me with —
and the worst is you know many of the accusa-
tions are false.
"As to sacrifice — I cannot possible be sacrificed
by any decision Amy may make that will secure
— or that she thinks will secure her happiness.
I never had, & have now, no advice to offer;
& felt that she must know better than anyone
else possibly can what she wishes to do.
"You need not disturb yourself with the idea
that I care to interest myself in anyone's mail.
Your imagination as to my character is wonder-
ful. | ' ! <•
"With malice toward none, Virginia Black/'
My reply to her follows :
"Chicago, May 13, 1910.
"Belle Black, 5910 Michigan Ave. :
"I replied briefly to yours of the 10th, but
am taking the time to go into the matter to tell
you that you evidently do not realize that you
are about to have more trouble than you ever
had in your life. Your methods have been tol-
erated so long that your 'clear conscience' no-
tion must be amputated.
76 THE STOLEN WIFE
"First, the 'unhappiness' you say Amy con-
fessed to you a few weeks ago was caused by
you. There is no doubt in my mind that you
love her, but you are so jealously selfish that
you want her all to yourself and you are bound
to have her even though you sacrifice her hap-
piness — for Amy loves me. She found me when
I was sorely tried. She has been my mainstay
and had mother lived you would not have dared
do what you have done. You can never make
me believe Amy would do the things she has
done in the last four weeks were she not under
the most despicable influence — yours.
"Second, when you say that 'until three days
before you left' my house you had spoken no
word of criticism against me you lie. I have a
number of proofs of it and will produce them
when I get ready — and will defy refutation.
"Third, you have been 'amazed' at my 'in-
justice & unreason/ You will be yet further
'amazed' at what I will do to you if you persist
in this diabolical crime of stealing my sweet
wife away from me.
"Fourth, you refer to what she read from the
'Fra.' Did you ever stop to think that when
you made her say Will is a 'scoundrel/ a 'villain/
etc., the same interpretation would fit you? I
suspect not. You have gossiped to us about
Sam and Sally and almost all of your family.
You profess a 'conscience' ; yet A knowing your
good mother's wishes relative to Will, you
try to drive him out into the world almost as
soon as she is dead — and you have her money.
How would you like to have that published to
the world? You told me that mother began to
suspect me before she died. You lie, you viper!
THE STOLEN WIFE 77
The last physical act of her life was to try to
fan me. Mother loved me as I loved her.
"Fifth, you say you offered to go away and I
objected. Again your lie. You have been telling
Amy from time to time that you did not like the
way things were going here and you thought
you would go away. Thus you played on her
love for you to turn her against me. When she
worried about it that worried me, and once 1
told you, I believe, that if you loved her you
would cease that talk. It has been my intention
to get away from you as much of the time as
my school duties would permit, for I have noted
your devilish influence on the girl who is more
like her mother than all the rest put together.
I worship my wife. You are worrying her to
distraction. I will punish you to the last limit
if you do not stop it. She loves me. It crops
out in spite of you. You persuade her she is
not in condition to answer my letters. You
keep her from taking a couple of days trip with
me to talk it all over. You seek to discourage
Dr. S. from; seeing her. You have done all you
can to make our separation permanent. You
are doing all you can all the time. You know
I have always been good to her. You admit in
your letter that I gave you a 'good home and a
life of ease/ How are you repaying me? By tell-
ing Dr. S. you do not wish any consideration of
you to have the least influence in keeping Amy
from coming back ; then you see to it that she is
influenced to not want to come. She knows I
need her in my life. She knows she needs me.
If you would let her come to me on a little trip
she will come home. She knows she had no
78 THE STOLEN WIFE
just cause for leaving and so do you. Your
selfishness prevents consideration of her.
"I pledge you the most bitter fruits from the
seeds you have planted. If she leaves me for good
it is all your doings. I shall have lost my life.
I will publish the facts broadcast and follow you
to the ends of the earth to hold you up to the
scorn of honest people. I know your history and
your little acts, from the petty things you did
here — going out for your meals the next morn-
ing after you decided you had been 'ordered out'
of the house — you are a liar and you know it —
away back to the time you visited Dr. LeRoy
Jones people as his fiance and they decided they
would rather their son had chosen the other girl
(Amy). I will go into such scathing details I
will raise your hair. If you desire to have the
peop 1 e of Saline, of Pettis, of Utah, of California,
of Montana, of Buffalo, of Evanston and else-
where know you as you are just keep this up
four weeks. If you don't just keep this letter
to yourself and advise Amy to come home and
try — first to take a few days' trip and talk. You
may try to argue that if I hurt you I hurt her.
I reply I am fighting a devil with fire and if any-
one else gets hurt their feelings are, possibly,
as invulnerable as mine. When she permits you
to influence her against her husband to whom
she owes her life she is doing a wrong — I be-
lieve without the ability to help it. You are a
criminal to traffic in her love.
"You say I 'do not increase Amy's respect' for
me when I apply epithets to you. That is a little
strange ; you seem to increase her respect for
you by applying them to me and to your brother
who has been able to overcome a bad habit while
THE STOLEN WIFE 79
you have not. Don't dare plead that because I
love Amy I shall spare you, for if Amy sacrifices
me for love of you and I sacrifice her for hate
of you, we are not yet even for she has two loves
and I have none.
"You pretend such horror of the sex ques-
tion, yet you cater to Grace Moore, whom you
know is living with a man she is not married to.
I say that is her business — but you, who butt
in on the affairs of those who have always been
good to you, have made the most of your troubles
by criticizing our teaching of anatomy and physi-
ology — and at the same time almost breaking
your neck to catch a husband — purely a sex prop-
osition. Oh ! you hypocrite ! Retribution shall
overtake and overwhelm you. I should bring
suit against you, and will not promise not to.
You pretend a 'conscience/ but violate the law
in the matter of settling your mother's estate —
to save a few dollars and avoid the assessor in
Saline county as you have been doing for years.
Give me my wife or I will expose you thoroughly.
"You quarreled with Charlie the cook at the
other house and I discharged him on your ac-
count before you had been in my home sixty
days. Herman, the house man, says he could
not please you; if he left a window up it was
wrong; if he put it down that was wrong. When
Amy and I were away last summer you fussed at
Arthur, the cook, until he was about to leave —
he said he only stayed because he promised Amy
he would be here when we camje back — Amy
knows this for he told her and she told me. This
entire trouble was caused by your nagging Will,
even to wanting to select his clothes. Your con-
stant harassing because of his acts when he was
80 THE STOLEN WIFE
not responsible is contemptible. You even made
Amy tell him his word would not be accepted
because he has been in the asylum. You know
he was not insane; that he had himself com-
mitted and was released at his own request. He
is showing himself far more of a man than you
are a woman. You are simply a morbid female.
You make Amy talk of 'Will's horrible career/
It never was a marker to your horrible career as
a trouble maker.
"You are so absolutely tactless and insulting
to those you come in contact with that no one
loves you, except Amy; and when you saw that
I was getting my affairs in shape to have more
time with her you hurried and stole her away by
creating trouble. You felt you have money
enough between you to get along. If you ever
lose it come back to me and I'll help you. Re-
member that while you have been enjoying the
'life of comfort and ease' which costs me twenty
dollars a day, your despised brother Will has
been helping me earn it. The world shall know
all about it — unless you bring Amy back. I'll be
liberal. I'll share her with you. But you can't
have her all the time without awful penalty in
the way of exposure. Charles."
Then I wrote to my wife :
"My Dear Wife. The only Woman I ever
Loved : I have never done you a wrong. I have
not deceived you in any way. Your amazing in-
gratitude and refusal to assign a cause for your
acts during the past month stuns me. I have
just recovered physically enough to be out of
bed. Mentally I do not expect to recover. You
say you are responsible. I leave you with your
THE STOLEN WIFE 81
conscience — if you have one. If you ever dis-
cover you are mistaken come home and your
old 'pappy' will be happy again. Loving and
forgiving I am your husband, Charles."
Then came a long one from Amy, from Se-
dalia, Mo. I will take it up paragraph by para-
graph, just as I replied to it:
"1014 Osa^e St., Sedalia, Mo., May 16 : Dear
Charles : I feel helpless on top of crushed, over
the outcome of all my hopes, but it was not until
after an honest, patient effort, hoping till the last
for better things, then have you turn on me, re-
fusing to see me 'only at home, nowhere else.' "
Now, my dear, you know we had an agreement
that if either became dissatisfied it should be
stated frankly and we would quit without a fuss
remaining friend's. Your manner on leaving, as-
suming you were "ordered" to leave when you
know absolutely it is not so, was not in accord
with that agreement. Your return to the house
the next Wednesday would have been in bad
taste if you had been "ordered" to leave; and
your return after leaving of your own volition
simply told me that you still cared for me in
spite of the damnable influence you were under.
You say you made an "honest, patient effort." In
my letter to you, August 16, 1906, you will find
this paragraph : "I offer you love, a home and
health and happiness if I can fulfill my hopes.
But when I am reminded of my many faults I
82 THE STOLEN WIFE
sometimes doubt my ability to be all you could
reasonably ask, try as I might. I think I could be
that with some loving help and a spirit of forbear-
ance when you know I have no faults to find
with you/' An earlier paragraph says : "I need
a wife who is not hampered by ideas that will
antagonize mine at every turn. Who will un-
derstand I want no secrets between us. Who
will not expect me to be an archangel until I
pass to the next sphere. Who will have the faith
in me that I give her. * * * * Who will
not demand that I attempt the impossible by
changing all the character I have to something
possibly ideal, but certainly not practical. Who
will realize there is a healthy standard, mental
and physical. Who will not assume that all con-
cessions should comje from me should we chance
to differ. Who will put herself in my place when
she sees things to criticize. " Have you done that?
As to my writing you that I would see you "at
home, nowhere else" you know, my sweetheart,
that the letter containing that expression was
written after you had paid no attention to my
letter inviting you to go to Milwaukee — I did
not know you were not in the city. You have
another letter altering that proposition since I
knew you did not get the first in time. Don't
you think you struck a childish argument that
time? When I received your letter this morning
I telegraphed you to come home and I would
THE STOLEN WIFE 83
put Will out if it wrecked the business. Now
I have a reply that I must come to Kansas City
and meet you in a department store. It cannot be
my Amy doing all these things. I couldn't do it.
I wouldn't go to the Palmer house again. Only
sports frequent such meeting places — and those
who do not know any better, poor things. I
would meet you almost any place and take a
little trip to talk it over, but I have to look out
for expenses and all these little things cost money,
needlessly. If I lose my wife because she de-
mands all the concessions I'll have to lose.
You say : "After being gone from your
house two weeks your letter proposing a trip to
Milwaukee came and was forwarded to Buffalo.
On my return to Chicago I found the letter con-
taining the above decision (referring to seeing you
at home only) ; there seemed nothing left for me
but sit judged as untruthful, disloyal and a dozen
other things you have charged me with. Your
second came as I was leaving Chicago, too late."
I have charged you with little save that you
submitted to the influence of one whom I regard
as a wilful criminal. If you assume it all I can't
help it. But I can^t believe my Amy would do
such things of her own free will. Even were she
to make oath to it, I would still think it was the
'influence/ If she is guilty she is disloyal and un-
truthful, but I love her so I would forgive her if
she asked it.
84 THE STOLEN WIFE
You say: "Possibly this is another useless
effort on my part, but I have promised myself
the relief that comes from having done all I
could, and you will have to admit that I have not
had an easy place to fill, as well as yourself. I
will mention a few things and I trust the man-
hood I have felt you possessed will sometime
awaken to your position in this affair."
I have never complained that I had a hard
place to fill save that it kept me from having as
much time with you as I wanted, and I was get-
ting matters in shape for that — changing my paper
to a quarterly and getting out my diet tables.
You say: "I have never claimed at any time
that I took Will into our house for any other than
two reasons: First, with the hope to relieve
mother from the strain she had endured, because
of his horrible career; second, because you
suggested the effort might be worth while as
he might make you a good teacher. He has al-
ways been disagreeable toward me and contin-
ued it after he came to our house, a fact you
have seen and lamented."
Your second proposition is a ridiculous one.
I never thought of him as a possible teacher until
after he conquered his habit. You confess you
were willing I should take .on a lot of trouble if
you might relieve your mother of worry ; you con-
fess that, now, when I have succeeded after all
other efforts had failed, and made a man of him,
and arranged my work so that I can use him
to advantage to me, to himself, to the school and
THE STOLEN WIFE 85
to the public, you would drive him, your brother,
out into the world to satisfy your spite against
him. Would you talk that way if your mother,
whom you profess to love, were here? It is not
my sweet wife writing such stuff as that. He
was "grouchy" toward you sometimes and I
stopped it quickly — his last offense to you was his
tactless effort to be nice to you. I have told him
of that too, and he will not do it again. I made
him/ a proposition to work for a certain sum
and his board. He accepted. He does the work.
I must do my part. If I send him outside to
board I must pay for it and give him as good as
he gets here. Thus your demands increase my
expenses. He helps to make the money which
pays our expenses. You have been a sweet com-
forter to me, and paid your way that way. Belle
has done nothing but the marketing, and I do
that now in twenty minutes daily — she also dis-
turbed the peace by her criticisms of everybody
and everything about the house.
You say : "You knew much of Will's record
before he came, you have seen much since for
yourself. You have seen his treatment of mother
and you have chided him repeatedly, appealing to
his manhood. He caused her anxiety up to the
last day of her life. You have urged us two
girls to 'fly back at him', 'give him as good as
he sends', etc. I refused with the hope of
peace and the best interest of you and the
business at heart."
86 THE STOLEN WIFE
You have certainly made up for lost time since.
Was I not good to take him when I knew of his
"record," for the sake of my wife's and her moth-
er's comfort? Have I not held him pretty level?
Would you advise me to wreck my business be-
cause he has his "grouches" — caused by Belle al-
ways ? You did not hold your peace toward him
very hard the days immediately prior to your
departure. I heard you tell him no one would
believe anything he might say because he has been
in an institution for the insane; that he is a
"villain," a "scoundrel" who "abused his moth-
er." I never heard him abuse her; he worried
her by his past conduct and her concern for his
future — constantly stirred by Belle; but you are
unfaithful to your mother's memory when you
want him removed from the influence of the one
man your mother had confidence in and love for
— me.
t You say : "He has irritated you so continu-
ously that you said he would drive you crazy
and you would rather run the school alone. He
kept you in terror, not knowing what he would
do next. He annoyed you in the office till there
has been almost constant trouble, especially on
vacation days."
He did all those things until about the holi-
days when we had the big rumpus about it. He
insisted in going out as my body-guard until it
became irksome and I told him if he offended
THE STOLEN WIFE 87
again I would dismiss him if it hurt the school.
He stopped and you know it. You also know
that his intentions were good all the time ; I told
you that and told you that was the only reason
I stood for it as long as I did.
You say : "You have said it looked as if he
did these things not with malicious intent. If
not at any rate he certainly did not take into
consideration your responsibility and physical
condition adn not try to worry you/'
Have you been taking into consideration the
same things during the last four weeks, my dear?
When you roast Will you are hitting yourself
severe blows, because you are asking me to add
to my labors when I am overtaxed already.
You say: "You may see some day this is
something more than 'grouchiness'. He has gos-
siped about the family, prejudicing you against
those whom you have never seen. Why? Has
said I have tried to run your business, was a
nagger, and that the Blacks always want to re-
form everybody. It is true of him for he has
tried to act as umpire for me ever since we took
him in, even in spite of my contempt for his
type of character. Has contemptuously said
I want to make a Sunday-school boy of you
when you swore about the house ; yet, if you
will notice, this is an accomplishment he ap-
proves of but does not indulge in. Why is
this?"
Of course you did not try to run my business
when you demanded that Will be dismissed or
83 THE STOLEN WIFE
you would leave the house and never return.
Of course you did not try to run my business
when you demanded that I let you blue-pencil
my copy for the "Ophthalmologist". Of course
you did not try to run my business when you
demanded that I stop teaching sex ills in my
school because Belle said she would leave us if
I did not stop it. And still she is crazy for a
husband. Does she want an unsexed one? I
am glad to note that you admit inadvertently
that Will has one virtue — he doesn't swear.
Possibly he thinks I do enough for both.
You say : "Why did he call attention to Will
Croff's short-comings — a poor ignorant boy, who
has made the most he could of his poor advan-
tage, yet would sit up at night with him, smok-
ing in his room; this against your orders and the
rules of your house. Was it to make the case
easy for you to handle, to lighten your burden
in the treatment of his epilepsy."
It didn't help, but it is a little strange that I
never heard of this before. Did you know it all
this time? When the boy, your sister's child,
had to be fired because he would not obey in-
structions and thus give us a chance to remove
the causes of his fits, this despised brother of
yours spent his own money for expenses to Se-
dalia and return to take the young smart-aleck
home, and I gave his mother every dollar that
had been paid me. I got nothing for my work
ffi
X!
a
THE STOLEN WIFE 89
nor for the boy's board. This sounds pretty
coming from my wife who has not only been
given a good home and all the love I have in my
soul, but who has had an income of about $2 a
day from books which I wrote and gave her the
income from for spending money.
You say: "You recall his drug sprees, both
of which you said were without excuse; one at
a time when you had a house full, embarrass-
ing you when you needed his help. I re-
quested him to remain in his room. Another
time following one of your fusses- you ordered
him out and he got drunk, took this way to
enlist your sympathies."
That was the time at Christmas, when I had
the final talk with him which settled matters and
they have remained settled.
You say: "Did he do all these things be-
cause of his loyalty and friendship for you?
Was it his interest in you and your cause that he
did his work in the class-room so long his own
way, regardless of your wishes? Why has he
questioned the validity of our marriage license?
Was it because of his faith in your integrity?
I have never asked him or anyone else for
loyalty if they do not give it freely. I do not
even ask it of you. But when you bear such
evident malice toward him you are doing your-
self no credit and your mother would be heart-
broken could she know it. As to the validity ot
our marriage where was your loyalty that you
90 THE STOLEN WIFE
never told me of this before? It is the first I
ever heard of it. If you and I are satisfied no
one else should lose any sleep should they?
You say : "I have seen the thing he was do-
ing for a long time, and because I was a friend
to you and your life work, and warned you
against letting him gossip, talk against me, you
then turned on me, your wife, the best friend
you ever had, whom you promised to love and
protect, the one you say has done more for you
than anyone else, whose presence brings you
peace, one whom you say your admiration is al-
most like worship, whose mentality means
much to you, the woman w r ho saved your life
as you often expressed it, the one who saved
you from being worse hurt if not killed by
the Busse sluggers, but who has never thrown
up to you what I have done as if it was an act
of charity. The one who saw and appreciated
your goodness and was so happy to fill a place
in your life and work, where I could help you
and try to repay you for what you had done
for me."
You have "thrown up" to me repeatedly that
I ran away when w T e met the sluggers and thus
showed you regarded me as a coward, when as a
matter of fact I knew and you know you were
in no danger at all and that I would have been
murdered had I remained. As it was I was
pretty well knocked to pieces — but it took three
of the big cowards to do it, and they were armed
at that. If they had shown any violence toward
you after I got away I would have returned, but
THE STOLEN WIFE 91
you came walking away unmolested. In tackling
the Busse gang I proved I am no coward as any-
body in Chicago will testify. If I ever tackle
them, again I will chase them out of the city.
Were I to undertake to enumerate all the sweet
things I have found in you it would take me so
long that I will only say they are enough to
smother out of sight all your mistakes — even
the present one — and I would enjoy you and the
sweets. Passing the other things, if you are
willing to forget Will's past and let him make
good if he can and go — as he must — if he can't.
His pupils all like him; he is a good teacher;
he is stuborn in some of his ways, and I have
to let him know I am the head of this insti-
tution sometimes ; but, go into any business
house and ask the manager if he dismisses
his best help every time it does not come up
to his standard or to his wishes. If he says
he does I'll take to the bottom of the lake and
give up the chase.
You say: "Ask yourself if he did all this
and dozens of other things I cannot mention
here because he saw we were happy, and he
wanted to promote that happiness and took that
way to do it. Just recall the things which oc-
curred the two weeks before I left and see if it
was the part of a friend. Our first serious dif-
ference and our last was because of his part in
our lives."
Thank you, my darling, you have proved Belle
92 THE STOLEN WIFE
an infernal liar over her own signature, when she
says : "I was surprised sadly a few weeks ago
when Amy said to me words to this effect: 'I
think you who had early disappointments are so
much better off than we w T ho married.' " I felt
she was a liar, now you establish it. I do not
know what you mean with reference to Will
unless it was when he went up to your room
and begged you to not take the step you and
Belle proposed to do. Then Belle stepped up and
told him she wished he would let you alone. As
to him gossiping about you, it is absolutely
false. He did not do it ever. I would not have
permitted it. As to his influencing me against
you, that is also false, because he nor anyone
else, save yourself, could do that and it would
crowd you to do it. You know his influence
over me is negative and your whole letter proves
that you know it. You are just letting a wild
prejudice run away with you. He shall not
bother you. He offers to go away or do anything
to get you to come back to me. You ask me to as-
sume a load that would not only overwork me
but would preclude the possibility of our taking
vacations as we could do if he is here. I think
my baby girl, I am the best qualified to run the
business — and I can handle Bill.
You say: "The one who appreciated your
system and always will and felt an interest second
only to your own ; and was willing to give up
THE STOLEN WIFE 93
everything to the good of the school, to econo-
mize that we might further the system."
Would it be economy to assume a board bill
for Will outside of the house? Would it be
economy to let my best helper go because he is
not perfect as a man?
You say: "The one who saw a selfish, so-
called friend creep into your life, saw you make
a confident of a man who was talking about you
when he could, this man who has never been a
friend to anyone, saw him maliciously or other-
wise manage you so you were not yourself, prej-
udice you against your own wife. This I saw
and I would not sit by and not offer a protest.
As a reward for my friendship, my loyalty as
your companion, you turned on me and said I
was like your former wife for whom you have
expressed contempt; told me I lied; and 'all
women are alike' ; and finally said for me to 'go
to hell'. This outburst was the result of a fuss
you and Will had, which always made you un-
pleasant to live with."
Belle has been trying to get rid of Will ever
since mother died. She never did like me as my
details in letters to her have shown. As to the
remarks you quote me as making, why did you
not state the direct cause? You will remember
that you were exhibiting rank jea 1 ousy toward
your brother, and it became tiresome to me be-
cause it was so absolutely groundless — the idea
that he or anyone else could take your place with
me ! — so I said you reminded me of "X". You
94 THE STOLEN WIFE
resented that in a manner so similar to some of
her actions that it made me remark : "I guess all
women are alike in some respects," but I had
never had occasion to think of you in that class
before. Then you got more angry and said:
"One of these days, when I feel this way, I'll
go away and if I do I'll never come back — and
I will not leave you any address either." To
this I responded : "Oh, you can go plumb to hell
if you want to." I certainly regret that I ever
allowed myself to grow angry enough to say that
to you; but you know, sweetheart, I didn't say
Td send you there. Did I, now. As to calling
you a liar, that is false. You kept repeating the
old story that Will had talked about you to me.
I had denied it until I was tired of it, and when
you repeated it I said: "That is a lie!" It is a
lie, whoever says it. No one ever talked about
you in any way that was not good.
You say: "You recall how many nights you
have gone to bed and could not sleep because he
had been irritating you, and yet, when I would
show you that Will was aggravating purposely,
hoping you would see it and stop him ere he
wrecked our home the above treatment was my
reward."
To this I beg to reply by pointing to our ante-
marriage agreement that when I was not in a
good humor was a poor time to talk to me, as
one answer. The other is that the charge that
THE STOLEN WIFE 95
Will has ever tried to break our home or that he
has ever attempted to prejudice me against my
wife is a lie made out of whole cloth by some-
body — I believe Belle Black, who has always been
a thorn in my side and in everyone's else — even
many times in Amy's so that she had to roast her
almost as much as I have Will.
You say: "What is a wife to understand by
such treatment ? I said I would leave. Then you
suggested I go for a short visit and come back
and try it over. I said I would but I would not
live under the same roof with Will. (Remember
I did not ask you to lose your teacher.) You
did not object but seemed glad to have me con-
sent to return. You went out for a few minutes'
walk with Will; on your return you gave me an
unsigned typewritten statement of 'The Situa-
tion' (we each have this) in which you decided
in favor of Will against your wife, saying it
would 'look like helF to have a brother live out-
side, 'disgrace to the school', etc., further saying
it is by a cause you got your wife and it was by
the irony of fate that you should lose her by that
cause, yet you are blaming Belle for our separa-
tion."
Belle's letters are sufficient to convict her;
and your own statement, made many times when
in the dumps, monthly, that if you ever went
away you would never return, prompted me to
express my belief in that behalf in writing which
I handed to you in person, hence it needed no
signature that I could see. I admit writing it
96 THE STOLEN WIFE
and I stand by it, and am glad I wrote it because
it is prima facie evidence I never "ordered" you
out. Further I have told you repeatedly that
Will has had nothing to do with what I have
written either before or after, save to hear what I
had said in them, and to often advise me that I
would better let the matter rest and not stir your
anger more or I would lose you entirely. I have
gone ahead because I have to bear the brunt of
the result, and I will do it my own way. You
know in your soul that Will nor no one has any
influence over me if I conclude I am right, par-
ticularly when I have to foot the bills., mistake
or no mistake. Call on the Crosbys and leave
Belle in a check-room somewhere so you will be
allowed to think for yourself, and you will con-
cede you are talking foolishly, when you say he
influences me for or against you or anyone else.
He never gossiped to me about his people half as
much as you and Belle have, but I did not call
your talk gossip because I thought I was being
regarded as one of the family — I have met all of
them but Aleck and Jerrold — I don't want to
meet the latter. He is a cheap politician. Will
has been away from home over fifteen years, and
does not know enough of the family to gossip
if he so desired.
You say: "You talked to Dr. Shoults of our
trouble, giving him still another cause and not a
true reason for our separation, so in justice to
THE STOLEN WIFE 97
myself I told himi my side, showing him the
statement of 'The Situation'. He said your posi-
tion seemed clearly to favor Will. I then told him
I objected to living with Will. He said: 'Why
not board him outside'? I told him you said it
would necessitate your paying him more salary.
He replied: 'Men support families on what he
gets.' Others who have regretted our separation
have said it looks like a case of giving up a wife
for business."
My dearest girl: The above paragraph gives
away your case entirely. You have admitted to
me many times that the matter I mentioned to
Dr. S. was one of the causes of occasional un-
pleasantness — disappointment to you — and I ad-
mit it was my fault; of course you were not nor-
mal, from the effects of operations, but I was not
either, from overwork. You state repeatedly in
this letter that you left because of Will. Yet you
have protested heretofore that you were "ordered
out" and that you were "never more surprised"
in your life. Come now, sweetheart, admit you
wilfully misinterpreted the "Situation" and that
there was nothing in it that could be construed as
an "order" save in Belle's imagination. Dr. S.
says he expressed no opinion on the meaning of
the "Situation" but that he did say Will could
live outside on his salary. I explained to him I
had agreed to pay that salary and his board.
That put a different phase on it to him as he will
tell you if you ask him. He is a good friend.
98 THE STOLEN WIFE
He saw my distress and came to me telling me
you had told him you were leaving, and were not
going to California, as I had explained to the
students the day you girls went out for meals ; he
offered his services any way I could use him, but
wrote you on his own initiative without my know-
ing about it. You accuse me of talking to him.
Why shouldn't I under the circumstances. He
loves you and he loves me. He has seen us loving
each other. You, it appears, have been talking to
others, not our mutual friends, the Powells and
the Rowes, for example, and they have told you
"it looks like giving up a wife for business." I
would like to have the photographs of these
friends (?). If my business is the only means
I have for the support of my wife, and she de-
mands that I give up either it or her, I have no
choice, for without it I would have to give her up.
You say: "I did not ask for this change, in
the home, not the business, on my own account
or comfort, but because he constantly worried
you, making you unpleasant to live with, unhappy
and sick, all of which you have frequently said.
I have not said much of the effect of this con-
stant friction on my nerves, for I have hoped for
an adjustment whereby we could all work to-
gether and be happy."
My dear, if you would only come home and
try it a week as it is now, without Belle here to
irritate him, you would see how it is. Will is so
anxious to have you back for my happiness that
THE STOLEN WIFE 99
he would almost let you use him for a door-mat.
I tell you he has not worried me since Christmas
except as Belle has worried him, and I saw his
"grouchiness" from it.
You say: "You gave me the only course to
follow. I did it. Then at my own instigation
you met me at the hotel — after I had been gone
almost two weeks, then after a little talk (during
which you seemed impatient) you suggested I
return under the same conditions that had caused
our trouble. You said Will regretted my leaving,
yet neither he nor you came near me to see if we
could reach some understanding."
Oh ! My sweetheart ! I was with you at the
hotel an hour. I made you the proposition that as
Belle was out and I claimed she had caused the
trouble, if you would come back and try it over
with one of the disturbers away, and if the other
still troubled we would "fire" it. I even came
home and made the proposition in writing and
you refused. I was uneasy while talking to you
on account of two things : One, the house de-
tective sat within a few feet of us, having been
called there by the housemaid in charge of the
room when she evidently saw we were worried;
the other was lest I should break down and cause
a scene and a sensation in the papers. As to Will
going to see you — or me, I tried to get you to go
on a little trip with me ; you didn't go. When I
broke down completely and went to bed last Fri-
day night and couldn't get up the next day, Will
100 THE STOLEN WIFE
thought I was delirious because I told him what
was going on in my head, and he begged me to
let him go to you. In view of what you had said
and what you have written, I felt if he went you
would be doubly angry.
You say : "Yet you profess to love me,
telling me I am killing you, my treatment is
'undeserved'. Who brought it about? Then
to this object of your affection you write that
our course toward Will puts us in the light
of having catered to mother for her money.
You know by marriage of either of the single
girls the married one's portion was cut down
and I did not receive sufficient to live on, but
must provide for myself. Because of your lack
of justice, in permitting anyone to talk of your
companion, you have accused me of being
guilty of the things you have done."
I will leave it to any business man or judge in
the country if your position is not the one that
lays you open to the criticism I have suggested.
As soon as mother is gone you demand that Will
shall go, at the sacrifice of my business, or you
will go. That paragraph sounds so like one
Belle wrote that I know she dictated it.
You say : "I have a different sort of principle
from that, and had Belle been of Will's type, and
wished or tried to make mischief, she would have
found in me a loyalty that you have proved you
did not possess towards me, and she would have
been stopped at once. But she has never in any
way influenced me or tried to. My leaving you
was forced on me by Will's desire to be rid of us,
THE STOLEN WIFE 101
and you would not stop his course, then you
joined in putting me adrift. My conscience is
clear and I can stand my fate."
Yes, your loyalty must be par excellence: I
am here at home. You are five hundred miles
away, having gone of your own volition — or
Belle's. I have stood for you all the time. You
gave me the pet name "Sentimental Tommy" for
it. I am loyal yet. I have never been otherwise,
save in your imagination. Your entire letter
shows you have left Will, not me. Read the fol-
lowing from your letter :
You say : "Business interests and admiration
of his education may blind you m/uch longer, but
justice and right will work its way to the front in
time, and some day you will realize the part you
have played in this ending of an honest soul's de-
sire; you will also find that success does not lie
in the paths you have followed. Then you will
see that treating the wife you have chosen, and
still profess to love, as if she were a withered
flower when she only asked you to put the dis-
turbing element from our home, not from the
school, and this only for the protection of our
health, home and. happiness, all of which I
thought as dear to you as to me."
As our old friend Le Mieux used to say:
"Wow!" I made a proposition that you try it
with the element I called the disturber out of the
way, pledging you that if the other proved to be
it he should go. You refused and told Dr. Shoults
that were you to come back it would be admitting
102 THE STOLEN WIFE
Belle was the disturber. If you are willing to
give up your home and I believe your happi-
ness, as I know it would cost me mine, rather
than admit Belle is wrong it will have to go
at that because I know she is not a god.
You say: "If you will recall the treatment you
have dealt out to another honest, trusting woman,
whom you say you loved, and the unhappiness
that followed for more than the two interested,
then your course in this most unfortunate affair,
you may be able to understand some of your
discouragements. You have wondered why so
great a system should progress so slowly while
others go forward on little to recommend them/'
Bless your heart ! You are hard up for argu-
ments to go back thirty years to a fool blunder
of my youth, confessed to you before marriage
that you might know all about me to rub it in.
It is like twitting Will for things he did ten
years ago when under the influence of drugs.
Why do you not rip "Brack" up the back for what
he did when he was under the influence of liquor.
You know he did pretty nearly as bad as Busse.
I like "Brack" and wouldn't hold it against him.
My system goes slowly because all great bodies
go that way. I'll trust my future — if I am per-
mitted to run the business. I have run it eighteen
years and have been robbed flat once.
You say: "There should be no great dis-
couragements in your path ; you have such a
splendid system, something humanity needs so
THE STOLEN WIFE 103
much. The one who has brought this to the
world should find willing hands on all sides to
help, and you would find help had you the
proper feelings toward people. I was so glad to
be the one to join you and wished to do all in
my power to help you, to love you as such a
man should deserve, and I was very slow to see
that you did not want my help. Did not appre-
ciate an honest, straightforward friend."
Now, you big, sweet baby, come home to
your "pappy". You are the mortal who can fill
the bill you describe — and you know it. Do not
wreck your own happiness and mine for such
things as you have enumerated. Come and
get your kisses and forget the bad old dream.
I have all my work done up, except the school,
and we will have lots of good times together.
You say: "Had I any other choice than go?
I still do not see that. I had. Then afterwards
offered to take me back on your own terms, when
my request was not unreasonable, to even your
own friend, who faithfully tried to help you."
You were unreasonable in asking me to
wreck the school to gratify your spite against
your brother. You were unreasonable when you
refused to put the matter to the test to see
whether I was right as to Belle being the dis-
turber, or you as to Will. After getting this
letter I telegraphed you to come home and we
would do as you asked in the matter, even if it
wrecked the school. You wired back asking me
104 THE STOLEN WIFE
to meet you in a department store in Kansas
City. I can't afford to in several ways. You had
all kinds of .choice in the matter of going. You
didn't have to go. I begged you to stay; and
when you came back to roast me and tell me
the man you married is dead I begged you to
remain then.
You say : "I begin life over now as best I
can, no home and assuming the disadvantage
a woman must after such an experience. "
No you don't. You have one of the finest
homes in Chicago, at 2100 Prairie avenue, and
a husband who loves you more than any other
man in town loves his wife. Come home.
You say: "I received the chart you sent me
by Dr. Shoults and thank you for it. It is
another reminder of the sad past, which I
shall hope to forget (at least a little) by going
into some other work. Anyway I am not quali-
fied for it now.
You thank me for something that reminds
you of the sad past? Why? Because in your
soul you know you love the boy whom you de-
clared was neglecting you when he was hard at
work on that chart that he might finish it and
complete the system that is to take care of you
and him the rest of your lives. The idea of my
baby being jealous of my work, or of anything,
or of anybody ! I will never offend again. I
THE STOLEN WIFE 105
will devote my time to you and telling what we
have done.
You say : "I trust this letter will reach you
when you are in a mood to receive it as it is in-
tended. Please read it more than once that you
may catch my spirit — I do not intend or wish
to hurt you in any way, but have gone over
these things hoping that justice be established.
I am not embittered. I am not revengeful; but
am willing to stand the results of an honest
effort and hope to learn by my mistakes. Yes, I
am crushed, terribly hurt, and feel that I did not
have your support in having a fair chance
against this influence you chose to let continue
in our home; did not give up, feeling I had tied
my life with yours and there are times when I
can understand your feeling to wish to die; but
life is not ours from choice, arid I shall soon try
to find some place where I can fit in and by doing
my part as best I can, I shall hope to receive
what is necessary for my existence. Trusting I
shall not make another mistake in finding that
place. One whose friendship you rejected.
Amy."
You big Blessing! I know a place where
you'll just fit — in my arms. HI guarantee you
will do your part and earn a good living. By
the way, you haven't answered a single one of
my twenty-one questions as to why you ceased
to respect me, as you told me the day you came
back to roast me. I am just your big old lover
and after you have read your own letter over in
combination with mine I shall look for the
106 THE STOLEN WIFE
sweetest message I ever got. If Will bothers
you in the slightest he shall go. My wife is and
always has been first with me, and everybody
knows it. I have advertised it in my paper.
You know it and all know it. Don't hesitate,
for she or he who hesitates sometimes loses. I
never hesitate and win oftener. See the Cros-
bys. Lovingly, Charles."
Perceiving from her letter that her mind was
still obsessed with the notion that her brother
had talked against her to me, in spite of all my
denials that such was the case, I decided to con-
cede her demand and save her; so I telegraphed
her as follows:
"Will has always said sacrifice him. I will
do it if it wrecks the business. What do you
say. Come tomorrow. Answer."
In two hours I had her reply :
"Meet me in Kansas City, Saturday, at
Emery, Bird & Co. waiting room."
To which I answered:
"Can't possibly. Class and other reasons.
Letter Friday morning."
Then I took her letter and replied to it para-
graph by paragraph as given. She sent the fol-
lowing brief reply making no reference to my
telegram conceding all she asked and complains
I refused to grant:
"Dear Charles — I have your letter of the 18th.
You are worried, but no more than I, and I am
MRS. N. J. CROFF.
The Ungrateful Woman,
with the Epileptic Son.
THE STOLEN WIFE 107
not well, but am hoping to go to Kansas City one
day the early part of the week ; possibly, not till
Wednesday or Thursday. It is rainy and warm
here. Sincerely, Amy."
Then I sent her the following, May 22:
U A Simple Statement of Facts : My Dear
Wife: The following is a succinct statement of
the facts with reference to our relations since
we have known each other:
"First, I took your case on the agreement
that I was to have no fee unless I secured the
results I expected. This was a voluntary propo-
sition on my part to test neurology. It was not
intended as an act of charity, and it was clearly
understood that I was to have a good fee if I won
to my satisfaction as well as to yours. You were
satisfied long before I was. Finally I was, and
asked for yourself as my fee. You made me very
happy by agreeing to such a settlement. You
had never exhibited any morbid symptoms, ex-
cept when you first came to me and said if I
failed to gain health for you, you would end it
all.
"Second, when you were in Missouri, during
our engagement, your letters were so happy
sometimes and so 'blue' at others that I felt it
my duty to help you decide whether you would
keep your engagement with me or not; so I
wrote you a long letter, setting forth my faults
and every point that occurred to me to cut any
figure in the matter. You had been in my
school — so had your sister — and knew its teach-
ings, my habits, etc. You knew my history from
babyhood up. You read my letter and replied
that you were sorry you had exhibited any doubts
about the matter and would certainly marry me.
108 THE STOLEN WIFE
I certainly did not deceive you then or at any
time since.
"Third, because I loved you and your mother
and knew it would give you pleasure to have her
and your sister with you, I invited them to ljve
with us. They accepted and you thanked me for
my 'goodness'. Mother never violated my hospi-
tality in the slightest; your sister did from the
moment she came into the house, almost. She
first got into trouble with the cook; next she
kept harping on the sex teachings of my school
until she worried you with fear that she would
go and take mother. Mother testified to the
correctness and purity of our teachings. Belle
had no business to come into the house if she was
afraid her Virtue' would be smirched. No one
but a very lewd-minded person could find any-
thing wrong with our sex disease teachings and
you know it. Your own remarks with reference
to Belle prove that.
"Fourth, you knew my habit, as to swearing
when provoked, before you married me, and, by
accepting my written proposition you agreed to
be patient with me and not find fault. You did
not keep that promise. You criticized me and
my methods of conducting my school until you
often tried my patience, but I kept still and found
no fault with you. Instead of discovering your-
self, you grew so selfish that if I actually hurt
myself badly by striking my foot against a chair
in the dark and swore about it, you would rise up
in bed and exclaim: 'Have you no respect for
my feelings? You are a coarse man!' Finally
that exasperated me and I retorted, at which you
took mortal ofifense. You said you would leave
and never return ; would not even leave your ad-
THE STOLEN WIFE 109
dress. Then was when I said : 'Oh ! you can go
plumb to hell if you want to', which you have
been harping on ever since in your letters with-
out mentioning the provocation. You have also
said I have told you you reminded me of 'X',
Well it was you who did the reminding. If you
exhibited her tactics is it a matter of wonder I
should be reminded of her? Which is the worst,
to do the acts or to be told of them?
"Fifth, I took Will into the house at your re-
quest, made something of him and gave mother
as much happiness by it as anything you ever did
for her gave her. I get him where I can use him
and adapt my business to such an arrangement,
which is advantageous to the school, in spite of
the irritation he is to me sometimes, when, your
mother being deceased, and your sister deter-
mined to rule or ruin the school if she could,
prejudiced you against him by saying that he
talked about you to me — a damned lie, whoever
says it — convinced you that I was neglecting you
for business, and finally worked you up to the
point where you deliberately left your home and
the lovingest husband any woman ever had ; who
spoiled you and gained your contempt by not
resenting your criticisms at the beginning. You
declared you never wanted to see Will again
and predicted the school would go to pieces ; you
said you did not even respect me; abused me as
'dishonorable' when you knew and know that I
never did anything dishonorable in all the time
you have known me.
"Sixth, Within two weeks you sent for me to
meet you at the Palmer house parlor and I re-
sponded in fifteen minutes. You had left home
angry because I had refused to turn your brother
110 THE STOLEN WIFE
out of the house and hamper the school work, be-
side making it impossible for me to give any
time at all to you if I did it. At the Palmer
house meeting I was in a nervous state almost to
the point of collapse ; a detective was in the room
with us, having been called there by the house-
maid — I saw her do it — and when I made you
the proposition that if you would come to your
home with Belle — whom I call the disturbing ele-
ment — away I would guarantee the other would
go instantly if it was found he had anything to do
with it. You refused point blank. I could do
nothing more and as I had a class which required
my attention I left after spending a fruitless
hour. That made you angry and you have said
I didn't care for you and wanted to get away. I
was distressed to have to meet my wife at a
place where giddy women, and unsophisticated
ones go to meet gentlemen friends. I came
home and sent you my proposition in writing,
and added an invitation to go with me
to Milwaukee and talk it over. Receiv-
ing no reply I became indignant and
wrote you that I would see you 'at home and
nowhere else'. Later I found you were out of
the city, hence was not responsible for the neg-
lect to reply and I sent another invitation which
has as yet elicited no reply, save to say the letter
was received 'too late' and to twit me for saying
I would see you 'at home and nowhere else'.
"Seventh, You have never been well and I
have made all sorts of allowances for your con-
duct in this matter, because I believe you are
under the vilest influence — Belle's — I ever heard
of ; one that while pretending to love you and to
have your interests at heart, would sacrifice you
THE STOLEN WIFE 111
or anyone else, and has sacrificed you in this
matter, to gratify her own spiteful, 'reformer'
nature. I propose to publish the whole story,
printing her picture and yours, so that the world
may know her as a devil and you as her victim,
unless this brings you to a realization of the situa-
tion and places your love for me in the ascend-
ancy over her influence.
"Eighth, When you wrote me from Sedalia
and I had seen Mrs. Wood, who told me she is
sure you love me, I telegraphed you I would
yield to your demands (unreasonable as they are)
and let Will go if it wrecks the school if you
would come home. The only reply I received was
to meet you in a Kansas City department store
the following Saturday. I declined. I have some
self respect if you have none for me. My propo-
sition now is that when you shall have seen that
you gave up a good home and a loving husband
wilfully and without any reasonable justification
for your act, as your own letters (telling me first
you hate Will and never want to see him again,
then writing complaining because he has not been
to see you to try to persuade you to return)
prove; you will find me the same loyal husband
and lover I have always been ; although you can-
not expect me to have the same absolute confi-
dence in your loyalty to me — that might come
again, however, as there is not a jealous streak
in me. I still believe you would never have done
the things you have nor said the things you have
if you had not been under the vile influence. You
told Mrs. Wood you were sorry you told me you
did not respect me and that the man you married
was dead, etc., but, dear, you have not yet told
me you are sorry. When you do Til forgive
112 THE STOLEN WIFE
you and well forget. My proposition is now that
whenever you are ready to come home and take
your place as before under the conditions you find
here, which I will guarantee will not be embar-
rassing to you or hurtful to you, I am ready to
go more than half way to meet you. But it is to
be understood distinctly that I am not to be picked
on without provocation and that I am to run the
school as I deem best. On these terms you have
a loving welcome. Charles/'
Knowing she would go to Kansas City to the
home of our good friends the Crosbys, I wrote
them telling them of the catastrophe which had
befallen us and asking their good offices. They
replied :
"Dear Doctor — Yours received and I assure
you Mrs. Crosby and I will do anything in our
power to present the case to Mrs. McCormick in
the strongest way we know how, and that we also,
both of us, feel the deepest interest. We both
know your strong mental make-up and are dum-
founded at the attitude Mrs. McCormick has
taken. After having known you and her and her
family we are so glad you have made confidents
of us and that we know, before she comes, your
side of the case, or have heard from you, so we
can do all possible to bring you two together
again for your happiness and I know hers as well.
If I had heard the news from any other source
than yourself I would not have believed she had
gone, for I fully believed you two inseparable and
ideally mated, and I still believe so. Yours most
sympathetically, C. W. Crosby/'
In the meantime it had been arranged that I
THE STOLEN WIFE 113
was to meet her at the Crosbys, and, as I
understood it, she was to come home with me ;
but when I received the following letter it put
a damper on my hopes :
"Kansas City, May 24; Dear Doctor: Mrs.
McCormick came, alone, last evening. We are
doing all we can and think, if you can get here
Thursday, your influence will climax our efforts.
So far I don't know where she stands to be sure
of it. She is very much depressed. Crosby."
I arrived on time and spent several days dis-
cussing the matter. My discovery on my arrival,
that she had not her trunk with her told me she
was still controlled by Belle, and it was with much
misgiving that I argued. It was not until Sun-
day afternoon that she agreed to come home at
all; the more I yielded the more she demanded.
Finally she looked me squarely in the face and
said : "If I return home and you fail to make me
happy, and I leave again, will you agree not to
publish the story about Belle ?" I replied: "Yes ?
provided, of course, that this is not a trick." That
stopped negotiations for an hour. Finally I said
"Does it not seem to you a remarkable thing that
a quarrel between Belle and her brother should
separate us two?" She thought a little and then
said, with a happy smile : "I'll go home and we'll
try it all over again." From that minute until I
left for Chicago in the evening she appeared a
changed woman. She had refused to set a time
114 THE STOLEN WIFE
when she would come home, saying she had to
help her sister make over some of mother's cloth-
ing, and expressed her pleasure that the sister
would enjoy having mother's belongings — at the
same time she declined to allow me to arrange for
her own occupancy of the suite of rooms in our
home which mother had occupied, although they
are the best in the house.
After I came home I wrote her letters daily,
making no mention of the trouble, but expressing
my happiness at the thought of having her with
me soon. She wrote me as follows :
"Sedalia, June 10. Dear Charles: I arrived
safely after my trip to Kansas City and am not
quite back to my former good feelings. I spent
Monday down town, expecting to leave at 4:30
and reach here at 7 :00, but that train only arrives
15 minutes earlier than the 5 :40, so I waited for
the later one. Found Will and John Croff to
meet me. Was very glad to see them because it
was 9 o'clock when the train arrived. It is warm
and fine now ; clear and nice for riding, which we
are doing every day. Nannie isn't feeling very
well so I am helping her a little. Everything
seems like a play house. Received your letters
and hope your prospects will meet your fondest
dreams. Suppose the students are all in by this
time and they are promising people to work
with. I will make my trip to Saline next week,
but letters sent here will be forwarded to me
there. I will drop you a line as I can. It is
hard to catch a little writing time with so many
to visit with. Hope you are well and enjoying
THE STOLEN WIFE 115
the fine weather and a good class. Ever, Amy."
A day later the next one came, showing that
she was again under the influence of the she-
devil :
"Dear Charles : It is raining and my trip to
Saline has been postponed for a while. Will go
as soon as possible. I am sorry you are lonely
and anticipate pleasure from my return, for,
frankly, I see little prospect for happiness for
anyone after our trip to K. C. Your outburst
there and treatment of my rights does not look
as if you realized my feelings or comfort and
I see little to hope for in a trial. At first I thot
maybe another effort would be best, but from
your actions the night before you left I could not
but feel otherwise. You do not view things as
I do, and at your time of life and all I do not
believe you can be different. My happiness is
what you have always said came first and you
wished no sacrifice on your account. I have
tried and hoped, but even after it all you dis-
regard my feelings when you feel you know
what is for my good, regardless of my feelings
or word in the matter. You will, I think, re-
call Saturday night and the trouble we had. I
will not go to Saline before the last of the week
as it is raining too much. Ever, Amy."
Shocked again at the audacity of the letter,
I replied:
"Chicago, June 7. Amy, Darling: That evil
influence has taken possession of you again ! You
refer to my 'outburst' in Kansas City ! Do you
remember that you positively refused to return
home and I then threatened to publish that vil-
116 THE STOLEN WIFE
lain Belle (this was my outburst), when you
threatened to end your life? Do you remember
bouncing in your bed and raving while I held
you and begged you to be a woman? I have
your happiness so much at heart that I would do
anything reasonable to make it complete. Un-
less you are the rankest hypocrite the world ever
produced you would be willing to concede that
if you should come home with a determination
to not be happy you would, very likely, not be.
You write so differently from what I have al-
ways found you to be that I cannot believe it
is you. You demand everything from me with-
out specifying what it is, assuming that every-
thing is due from me to make you happy and
that you owe nothing to yourself or to me, your
husband. From an absolutely unselfish, lovable
woman, you picture yourself turned to a selfish
unscrupulous one. Of course, if that is the case,
you are at liberty to remain away, if that is your
choice. I cannot make you happy if you refuse
to do your part. If you are not of a different
mind and decide to come home and try to let
me make you happy by the 15th I shall open my
batteries on the destroyer of our happiness
and will make her wish she had never been born.
Loving, hoping, and pitying you for the awful
influence you are under, I am, always, your
worshiping husband, Charles."
She replied immediately, and this letter shows
she was under the damnable influence when she
wrote the other, else why did she write it? Her
entire conduct has been such as to convince the
most skeptical that she has been either under the
control of that she-devil, or she is a she-devil
THE STOLEN WIFE 117
herself, who would keep leading me on for the
purpose of torture:
"Dear Charles : There seems to be some mis-
understanding. I said I was sorry you were an-
ticipating so much pleasure, etc., or words to
that effect. I only meant that I hoped you would
not be too buoyant, for it takes time to get over
such differences as we had in Kansas City, and
I hope we can in time, and I certainly trust we
may avoid them, for they are most unhappy af-
fairs. Hastily, ever, Amy."
A day or two later I received a call to go to
Kansas City to see Mrs. Crosby, who was ill, and
as I left Chicago, brother Will, the despised of
his sisters, wired my wife that I had gone. The
next day I received a letter from her tendering
her services to Mrs. Crosby. I was glad of an-
other opportunity to see her, after the outcome
of our other meeting, so I wrote her to join me,
which she did. She was very formal, however,
as if she had been coached for the occasion. She
was not permitted to have her trunk with her
this time either. However I succeeded, with the
assistance of Mrs. Crosby, in persuading her to
agree to return home as soon as she could at-
tend to putting some flowers on her mother's
grave at Marshall ; and after Mrs. Crosby showed
decided improvement we left together, she rid-
ing on the Chicago train as far as Marshall, about
three hours. On the way we discussed several
matters which will appear in the next letter
118 THE STOLEN WIFE
quoted. As she left the train at Marshall I said :
"Now, come home soon, dear." She had not
yet set a date for her return at any of our con-
ferences. She replied, with a laugh and toss of
her head which I had never seen before, "No,
not soon." This was too palpable a shot for me
to let go by without showing resentment, so on
my arrival home I sent the following:
"Chicago, June 12, 1910.
"To my Wife, Amy N. (Black) McCormick:
Dear Amy : Your 'No, not soon,' in reply to my
request that you come home soon, as you left
the train at Marshall last night, was a shot that
hit the center of your target and set his thinker
and analyzer going, with the result that this let-
ter is going to be very plain and very final.
"A few minutes before the train reached
Marshall, as we sat in the smoking compartment
of the car, waiting for it to reach the station,
you said: T am coming back home and make a
faithful effort to be happy. We will start all
over again/ A few moments before that you
told me as we sat in the observation car, that
you had married too late in life to ever adjust
yourself to the conditions and that you would
not expect to be tied here if you came back ; that
you would spend next winter in California; that
you had become so accustomed to traveling
about that you could not stand the limitations.
A few moments before that, in the diner, you
told me that we had taken trips to Buffalo, to
Cleveland, to Michigan, to Milwaukee, to Du-
buque, to the South, besides little trips. Thus
you proved by your own utterance you have not
THE STOLEN WIFE 119
been tied very badly. Then you and mother and
you and Belle had several trips besides those we
took. Yesterday morning, in our room at the
Crosbys', you told me you did not believe I
loved you and when I asked if you loved me
you gave a little laugh and replied, 'Not much/
Then you added that I have treated you worse
than anyone ever did before. When I asked for
specifications you repeated the story of my hav-
ing called you a liar and told you to go to hell.
I reminded you that the occasion when I told
you what you said was a lie, was when you in-
sisted on declaring that your brother Will had
said evil things about you to me. I had told
you so often that not only he but no one else had
ever said anything but good about you that I
thought it time to stop that story, so I said : 'That
is a lie.' It was a lie and is a lie; no matter
where it originated. Then you threatened that
you would leave me one of these days and would
never come back and you wouldn't leave any
address. I was pretty well out of patience by
that time and I said: 'Oh, you can go plumb to
hell if you want to.' Not elegant language, I
confess. But what about the provocation? When
you brought the subject up yesterday and at oth-
er times I asked you which is the worst, to tell
a lie, or to be told of it?
"Now I propose to go into some details about
the lie business: You were a graduate from
my college when you agreed to marry me. You
knew my views on the sex question and endorsed
them. You have told many others the same thing
since. You told me the other day, at Kansas
City, that you never believed in them but had
accepted them in an effort to be a good wife;
120 THE STOLEN WIFE
again you told me, the same hour, that you had
believed in them once but now you have changed
your mind. Pray which one of these stories
is a lie? You told me last summer, just after
my sister, Mrs. Rowe, of Buffalo, N. Y., went
home from her visit to us, that she had told you
of her fifteen year amour with a friend of her-
self and her husband, a wealthy man of family,
whom she loves, who helps clothe her and she
would have to leave town and have her grief out
alone if her lover should die. You told me that
she told you to tell me as she believed I would
think it was all right, as her husband was not and
never had been a husband to her, from some
cause which she did not explain. Two weeks
ago, at Kansas City, you looked me squarely in
the eyes and said: 'You remember that story I
told you last summer about your sister Carrie
and her friend'? I replied: 'Yes/ Then you
said: 'Well, I never told you that story.' Which
one of these two tales is a lie? You told me
when you left here that you were 'ordered out
of the house.' You told me yesterday that you
never claimed such a thing. Which of those
stories is a lie? You told me after mother died
how much you all appreciated what I had done
for her in her last years and how much she re-
spected and loved me, saying that I stood equal
to if not higher than her own sons. You told
me two weeks ago that mother had said she was
afraid I wouldn't make you happy. Which one
of those two stories is a lie? You told me re-
cently that you haven't been happy with me for
over two years. You have written to your
friends about your 'good' husband within a year,
to my certain knowledge, and within two weeks
THE STOLEN WIFE 121
you have written me that you were happy with
me up to our first and last trouble, all of which
occurred in April. Which of those tales is a
lie, my dear ? You have reminded me repeatedly
of our agreement that if either became dissatis-
fied with the other we would be perfectly honest
and say so. Yet you tell me now that you have
been dissatisfied a long time; unhappy and did
not tell me. What brand of truth do you call
that? I have asked you repeatedly in the last
two months why you have lost respect for me
as you have said, even enumerating things which
I thought may have caused it, such as restoring
your health, curing your mother, helping Will
out of the drug habit and making a man of him,
so that with his education he will yet lead all his
brothers in making his mark in the world; en-
tertaining your relatives that you might have
everything to make you happy; etc. You have
never mentioned a single thing save the same
old story that I* called you a liar and told you
to go to hell, which is false. But if I had is
that enough to warrant you in leaving such a
home and such a faithful love as I have for
you? If it was, why did you offer to remain if
I would dismiss Will and either overwork my-
self or kill and cripple my school? I had to re-
fuse because I would not have been able to sup-
port you if I did as you demanded. Then, when
you left, if you were so mortally offended, why
did you send for me — you had declared you
would not do so nor leave your address? Why
did you send for me to come to the Palmer house
to talk with you, and why did you write to me
that you thought we had 'so many things in com-
mon to bind us together' if you believed you were
122 THE STOLEN WIFE
in the wrong place and were not happy and could
never be made happy? When I offered to send
Will away if he interfered with your happiness
why did* you not accept ? I have never lied to
you in the slightest I have always been so
proud that it was never necessary. Finally I
wired you to come home and I would send Will
away if it killed the school. Why did you not
come home? I had conceded everything you
asked. You telegraphed me to meet you in a
Kansas City department store when you had
friends in that city who are your Good Friends.
Why did you do that? When we finally met in
the home of the Crosbys and came to an agree-
ment that if you would come back and help me
try to make you happy it was on the basis that I
would let Belle go scott free after her scandalous
conduct in my house while the recipient of my
hospitality. Then you try to put off the home-
coming as long as possible to tease and worry
me, evidently.
"Now you have gone the limit. Did I not love
you so much that I utterly refuse to believe you
could be guilty of such treason to your husband
as your conduct of the past fifty days, taken on
its face would indicate, and choose to place the
vile responsibility where I am sure it really be-
longs, I would have never written you or made
any efforts at reconciliation.
"Here is my ultimatum : You must be at home
on the morning of Thursday, June 16th, tender-
ing your presence as sufficient apology for your
conduct, if you are guilty, or letting that pres-
ence be an admission that you have acted under
a strange and irresistible influence which caused
you to do things a child would have been soundly
"G. ALLAN" ROWE, THE MAN GOSSIP
Who Claims the Right to Slander and Blackguard
and Denies His Victims the Right
to Retaliate.
THE STOLEN WIFE 12b
spanked for ; instead of conducting yourself with
the dignity due from a forty-year-old woman.
My love for my wife is so unbounded I can for-
give her for almost anything now; but not after
Thursday. If you do not come I shall accept it
as the final evidence that the influence is in su-
preme control, or that you realize your deliber-
ate deceit has run its race and I will proceed to
act in a manner that will dispense as nearly ade-
quate punishment as I can supply. This is the
last communication you will receive from me, un-
less your reply seems to merit an answer. A
plea for time will not go. In anguish, your
husband, Charles McCormick."
She replied in the following indifferent man-
ner, showing that she was either under the
damned influence or had determined to ignore
my specifications and play with me as long as
she could. Had I not known her so well and
so positively opposite to the character she has
been playing, I should have regarded her as un-
worthy to lace my shoes long ago; but I still be-
lieve it is impossible for the girl I married and
lived with four years to do these things. Here
is her letter:
"Dear Charles : You have misunderstood me
in reply to your question. Possibly you did not
hear my reply. These were the words you used
as I was leaving the train: 'Will you be home
next week?' I had just been telling you the nature
of my visit here, to have some planting done
in the cemetery, a trip to the farm, both of which
may be determined by the weather. In view of
124 THE STOLEN WIFE
such uncertainty I had told you I could not set
the exact time. This was discussed before we
reached Marshall. As I got off the train you
asked me the above question. I replied: 'Not
so soon/ You seem to have it I said: 'No, not
soon/ I had tried to be careful not to set the
date earlier than I could meet, for I was anxious
to avoid further misunderstandings, but suppose
you did not hear. Do you remember when I
said I felt like a trip to California now would
do me good you said I could go if I wished, but
you thot better to wait until this winter because
of the summer heat? You did not tell me I must
be home this week, and from our talk I sup-
posed you would give me time to finish my visit
and business here when I had given up the
Western trip. It is clear this morning and I
will go to the country for a day or two. The
ground is so wet I fear it is not a good time for
planting, but will see the gardener about it.
Hastily, Amy."
I had been long-suffering in this controversy
and this letter, totally ignoring the main features
of mine to her, made me so indignant I sent the
following :
"Chicago, June 14, My Dear Amy: I have
a right to the same fealty from my wife that I
give to her. If I can't have it I'll have to go
without it. Your letter, just received ignores
the main part of mine to you and you have said
repeatedly that to ignore anyone is a settler. Now,
I will not be ignored. I will have answers to
my propositions or know the reason why. The
outrageous treatment which has been accorded
THE STOLEN WIFE 125
me must stop. Either you love me or you don't.
You know where I stand. You told me in Kansas
City you did not love me much. Beware that
you do not carry this matter too far. If you
come home it must be at once and for good. If
you do not intend to come say so. I refuse to
be held in suspense any longer. Charles."
I loved her so for all that she had been to me
that I could do nothing but think of the great
trouble. I was almost wild to find the she-devil
had my sweet wife so under her control. Within
twenty-four hours I wrote the three letters fol-
lowing :
"Chicago, June 14, 1910.
"My Dear Amy: You have given up a better
home than 99 out of every 100 women ever had.
Your only excuse given has been that I treated
you worse than any one ever did in your life.
You specify that I called you a liar and told you
to go to hell. You fail to recognize the cause for
my remarks and make a false statement regard-
ing the mjatter. First you had been reiterating
the claim that Will had talked to me against you.
I grew tired of hearing it and simply said : 'That
is a lie.' It was a lie; you may have originated
the story — if so it is none the less a lie; and
the fact that you told it does not change the
truth in the matter ; hence it is a false statement
that I called you a liar. By reiterating it after I
had declared it false repeatedly you were prac-
tically calling me a liar. Then you threatened
to leave me and added that you would never let
me hear from you again — that you would not
even leave your address ; then it was that I said :
126 THE STOLEN WIFE
'You can go to hell if you want to;' but that is
not telling you to go to hell, as you have chosen
to interpret it. Now you must admit that your
conduct provoked both remarks to which you
cling like a drowning person to a straw as an ex-
cuse for deserting a good home and a loving hus-
band. Do you think anyone will ever believe
you, as a sensible woman, would leave your hus-
band for such a trivial matter — provoked by
yourself? The only reasonable conclusion peo-
ple will reach after knowing the particulars about
Belle and her methods in my home and else-
where must be that she has influenced you by her
indomitable and devilish w r ill.
"On mature reflection you must, in all honesty,
admit that I have also treated you better than
anyone ever did : First, I gave you all the good
health you ever had in your whole life; Second,
I gave you and still give you all the love I ever
had — a combination of admiration, respect and
all that goes to make the ideal. I have always
given you my fullest confidence and w T as proud
that I need not have the slightest secret from you.
Have you done the same with me? We have
often had our playful disputes as to which of
us loved the other the most. You must now
admit I am the winner. You have written me
letter after letter arguing that I have always said
I would do anything for your happiness but you
have never intimated you have considered my
happiness in the least in this matter. Do you
think that is fair? You have declared that you
wanted to put in most of your time away from
home even if you decide to come back now. Is
that doing the part of a loving wife who has her
husband's interests at heart? Analyze yourself
THE STOLEN WIFE 127
and see if you can justify your conduct toward
me during the past fifty days.
"I think I know the reason you do not want
to come home now, even if you have intended to
come at all : It is that you do not want to come
while there is a soul in the house who knows that
you left with the expressed purpose of remain-
ing away. Why did you not say so instead of
calling back flippantly, as you left the train at
Marshall, 'No, not soon/ in response to my re-
quest that you come home soon? You will find
none here who will mention the matter or give
it the slightest reference by word or act. All
know that we were in Kansas City together, that
you are out there on business and will be home
soon; and they all know I am very anxious to
have my chum at home again. The servants will
be so glad to see you that you will feel very much
at home. When I was sick both Herman and
Arthur said to me : 'Don't worry, Doctor, Mrs.
McCormjick will soon be home to you.'
"Now, darling, remember this suspense has
been hard on you and it has almost knocked me
out. I cannot stand it any longer and I must
have it settled absolutely and at once, for all time.
Very lovingly and hopefully, your husband,
Charles."
"Chicago, June 15, 1910.
"Amy: Leaving Belle out of the proposition
as you suggest when you say you have been
wholly responsible for your conduct in the last
sixty days, you stand convicted on the follow-
ing counts :
"1. I married you in good faith and have kept
it while you have not.
128 THE STOLEN WIFE
"2. I was well and you were sick; I cared
for you with all love and patience; you often de-
clared you did not see what I wanted to marry
such a charge as you for; showing you were not
as patient as a wife as you had been as a patient.
"3. I idealized you and instead of looking for
your faults, pointed out your virtues ; you looked
for faults and magnified them, constantly tell-
ing me of them until you did me the final
wrong to charge me with causing you to
leave home when it was you who finally provoked
me to reply to your insults — then your ego was
so large that you could not see that you were
wholly at fault.
"4. I plead guilty to my part in this, that I
overestimated your mental balance and thought
to make you all the sweeter by being sweet to
you and petting you. . It spoiled you, but I hope
not beyond restoration.
"5. You knew all about me and my work be-
fore you came to me as my wife, endorsed it
theoretically and practically, yet permitted your
prudish sister to criticize me in my own house,
and within the last two weeks have told me your-
self that you never believed in my teachings but
professed to in order to be a good wife; you
also said you did believe once but have changed
your mind ; you place yourself in a very peculiar
position, you must confess.
"6. I gave you and your mother and sister a
good home; I did for other members of your
family many things, cheerfully, because I wanted
to make my wife happy. You have said many
times yourself that I was the most unselfish man
you ever met. As you leave you try to pick a
fuss with me and tell me I have treated you
THE STOLEN WIFE 129
worse than you were ever treated in your life.
You have deliberately lied to me about so many
other things that it makes me wonder if you al-
ways lied to me just to see how much I would
stand for.
"7. You have told me you have lost respect
for me and do not love me, yet you kept on writ-
ing me after you left and even complained be-
cause Will did not come after you when you had
said you never wanted to see him again. When
we talked of coming home you said you could
never be happy here again and when I spoke of
using mother's rooms you shed tears and said
you wanted nothing to do with them; yet the
next few minutes you expressed approval of
Nannie's wearing mother's clothes. If you are
the altogether hypocrite your own words and acts
indicate on their face I do not want you here;
but I cannot believe that my 'Baby Girl' could
be so low and contemptible. I will always be-
lieve, from other evidence, that she has been hyp-
notized and will treat the case accordingly when
I give the details to the world. In order to make
your peace with me, however, on the strength
of your claims you must enter a plea of guilty
and admit you persisted in charging me with re-
sponsibility for your last act — leaving homje —
and you must explain your assertions with ref-
erence to the sex question and to Carrie and sev-
eral other things. This must all be done before
next Monday morning, in Chicago, or the doors
of my house will be closed to you forever. You
have kept me in hell for sixty days and I propose
to break out. Here I am obligated to teach my
classes and am unfit for it, all on your account.
I will forgive if you ask it within the time men-
130 THE STOLEN WIFE
tioned, but positively not after; nor will I listen
to any further accusations from you forever. I
love my ideal; if you can be that, come home;
if not, don't. The only revenge I can have for
all I have stood for is to clear my skirts before
the public and our friends by fullest publicity,
which I shall do if it is ended. Charles."
"Chicago, June 15, 1910.
"Amy: As I sit and meditate on the past
fifty-eight days and the manner in which I
have been treated by those who owe me more
than anyone else on earth — even to charging
me with being responsible for their conduct —
my indignation grows until I feel 'tempery.'
"After what you have told me of what you
mean when you ignore people, your ignor-
ing of my questions in my letter of Sunday
means to me that you must have lost respect
for me and yourself too. The crux of the
matter is upon your replies to those ques-
tions. You have said to me that you could not
soon forget my 'treatment' of you even if you
came back. I want to say that you ought to
thank your lucky star that I have a good
forgetter. I sent you this morning a copy of
a letter I wrote you at Sedalia in which I
place the responsibility for all this trouble
on you or the one who has you influenced.
Don't think for a minute I will permit you
to hold me for something I never did. Don't
think for a minute I can be trifled with any
longer. You owe me an apology for what
you have caused me to suffer in the past fifty-
eight days. If you respect yourself and me
you will confess your fault, come home and
be natural ; drop those prudish notions you
THE STOLEN WIFE 131
exhibited in Kansas City; admit you deliber-
erately imposed on my good nature by tell-
ing me what you knew to be false and pledg-
ing me you will be as faithful to me as I have
always been to you. I will stand for no more
of this nonsense. If you come home this
week, well and good ; but remember I have no
promises to make as to what I will or will
not do. I gave you my word not to publish
Belle, if you come, and of course I wall not,
provided we outgrow the evil effects she has
had. Otherwise I most certainly will give her
a dose. I have written Nannie that inasmuch
as she denied me a reply to my request that
she help me get you away from the influence
of Belle I have the right to presume she is in
league with that devil to keep you away from
me. I told her that her conduct is as con-
temptible as is that of the Missouri Pacific
railroad company in employing her epileptic
son in the train dispatcher's office, thus en-
dangering lives of passengers and others, and
I told her the wmole story will go into print.
When I think of the humiliation it must be
to you to have to confess to your husband
that you have wronged him grievously, or
have been under a strange, vile influence, I
pity you and love you and will help you.
They have made you feel that you are the
outraged one, when it is not so. If I can for-
give and forget how you have exhibited no
thought of my happiness but have constantly
demanded your own at whatever cost to me,
you should show your appreciation of it be-
fore it is everlastingly too late. I will open
fire Monday morning if you are not at home
with a pledge to remain — and you shall give
133 THE STOLEN WIFE
me replies to the questions I asked in my
Sunday letter. I positively will not be ig-
nored. This is absolutely the last word from
me. Charles."
It was not quite the last word from me,
however, for on July 4th I wrote :
"Amy Dear: As I am about to begin a
bombardment of my enemies, in which no
mercy will be shown or asked, I want to say
to you that you are the only woman in the
world for me. I gave you my love — my life —
they took you away. I will never believe your
conduct has been your own during the past
three months. I will always love the sweet
woman who was my pet, and when she wants
me she knows where I am waiting."
I have been completely ignored by her since
June 13th. On August 18th, while in Chicago,
Dr. Crosby, our mutual friend, sent her a tele-
gram begging her to not let prejudice or pride
wreck two lives, referring to hers and mine.
He received the following reply:
"Sacramento, California, Aug. 18th.
"Doctor upset my agreement to return
when I came away, and twice since. I am
done. Amy McCormick."
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.
On June 7th I sent the following letter to
her sister Mrs. N. J. Croff, 1014 South Osage
street, Sedalia, Missouri, the mother of the
epileptic boy I have referred to, believing she
would not only be glad to show her gratitude
to me but would have her sister's interests at
heart enough to advise her fairly:
"Mrs. N. J. Croff: I am addressing you
this letter to ask you to* help me save your
sister, my wife, from the influence of one who
has most shamefully abused by hospitality.
I refer to Belle. You know some of the par-
ticulars, but from some remarks dropped by
Amy when I met her in Kansas City, I fear
you have been deceived or not taken into full
confidence. Amy has admitted repeatedly
that I have always been good to her. She
disappointed me on the K. C. trip by not hav-
ing her trunk with her so that she could come
home with me; and I believe it was Belle's
influence that fixed the matter so. Now I
propose to give the world a complete history
of what I have done for my wife and her
family, going into such details that there will
be no misconception of what Belle has done
and why. Nothing on earth can prevent what
is coming unless I have my wife home by
the 16th. You have seen enough of the world
to know that Belle cannot afford the exposure
she will get at my hands. I will make her
134 THE STOLEN WIFE
an example that will bring shame upon all
who know her or who ever will know her. I
will produce the most positive proofs. I will
protect my wife in it all but I will show how
she has been dominated through pity for the
hopeless condition of her sister who is abso-
lutely without scruples. This is the last let-
ter I shall write in the matter. Amy's letter,
just received, makes it useless for me to argue
any more. I shall proceed to act in such a
manner as I think best to save her from mak-
ing herself and many others unhappy for life.
I hope you have it in your power to show
her that she has some duties as a wife which
she is bound to respect if she wants the res-
pect of the world and of herself. I leave it
to you to use your judgment in the matter.
You know what sort of a home I have given
her. You know that I love her and always
have. After the 16th let Belle have a care
for herself. I shall have none for her. I will
have lost my sweet wife through her and I will
make her repent her acts no matter what hap-
pens to me, Respectfully your brother
Charles."
Immediately after sending the above I was
called to Kansas City and had the interview
with my wife, during which she told me that
Belle had sent me word that if she were a man
she would do lots of things to me. So, on my
return to Chicago I wrote the she-devil as
follows.
"Chicago, June 12, Belle Black, Sedalia,
Mo. : I have received your threat sent by
THE STOLEN WIFE 135
Amy. I have given her until Thursday to be
at home as a wife should be and as she would
be if it were not for you. If she does not
come it is your fault and you may as well
know that I have no fears of you or of any-
one you know. I shall give truths to the pub-
lic and I will be only too glad to prove them
in court. You are the most heartless, con-
scienceless beast I ever saw, male or female,
and the world shall know you as you are.
Remember there is no delay for you. You
will have destroyed my home and your sis-
ter's happiness. I will punish you as the sit-
uation merits. You say if you were a man
you would do so and so. If you had been a
man you would have had to settle with me
fifty days ago. You talk conscience ! and
purity! You have neither. The truth will be
sufficient to finish you. It shall go wherever
you have ever had an acquaintance and you
shall be shunned as the leper you are. Vile
monster ! Female Svengali ! You shall find
out whom you tackled this time. Charles Mc-
Q>rmick."
"A few days before the above was written
I had sent the same individual this one.
"Belle Black: I have just received a letter
from Amy which shows your devilish influ-
ence is at work again. She talks about my
'outbreak' in Kansas City when it was she
who had the 'outbreak' and threatened to kill
herself if I expose you. She writes as if her
happiness could only be secured by some sac-
rifice from me which she has not designated.
She evidently does not desire to return here,
136 THE STOLEN WIFE
although she appeared happy after we had
settled the matter last Sunday week. Now I
have this, to say to you : If she is not at home
by the 16th of June I will cut loose on you
and the world shall know what you are. You
have worked on her sympathies until she is
liable to destroy herself — or else she was
bluffing when she talked to me. If she does
anything her blood will be on your head.
Damn you ! Curse you ! Your people will
know you when I have done with you. I
will hound you to the ends of the earth. Re-
member nothing can save you if she is not
home by the 16th. I will have lost her and
I will make you pay the dearest penalty you
ever dreamed. Charles McCormick."
Not receiving any reply to my letter to Mrs.
Croff I sent her another a week later :
"Mrs. N. J. Crofif, 1014 So. Osage, Sedalia,
Mo. : Madam : I recently wrote you a let-
ter asking your aid in rescuing my wife from
the vile influence of Belle Black who is about
to be shown up to the world as the vilest of
creatures, with proofs. You have seen fit to
deny me a reply. Now I have a right to as-
sume you are in league with Belle, therefore
I want to announce to you both that I have
written Amy I have stood for all the insults
I propose to and will proceed to business if
she is not at home at once and for good, giv-
ing to me the fealty that I give her and have
always given. If she elects otherwise it is
the influence she is under. I propose to not
only show Belle up, but I will show what I
have done for you and yours and the treat-
THE STOLEN WIFE 137
ment I received for it. Your conduct has been
as contemptible as that of the Missouri Pa-
cific company in employing an epileptic in its
train dispatcher's office. I intend to print full
particulars — Belle has sent me word that if
she were a man she would do things to me.
You have alleged men in your family, if any
of them want to tackle me they know where
to find me. Charles McCormick."
This brought a reply in a hurry. Yea, tw r o
of them. One from the woman herself to me
and one from her daughter to brother Will,
the despised of his sisters, because he braced
up and made a man of himself :
"Sedalia, Mo., June 15, 1910. Dear Bro. :
I am very sorry indeed you are laboring un-
der a wrong impression, altho I am to blame
because I did not answer your letter which I
should have done, but have been so worried
and agitated over the trouble I completely lost
sight of my duty at the time and when I asked
Belle where your letter was she said Amy had
taken it with her so was at a loss again, but
as Amy left here with the full intention of
going back to Chicago as you and she had
previously arranged, my mind was somewhat
at rest. If you think for one moment I have
not influenced in your behalf you are much
mistaken for I do think you have both been
too hasty in so serious a matter and hope some
reconciliation will soon be reached. My heart
goes out to you both. They are both at the
farm now. Am not at all well at present or
would write vou more. With kindest wishes,
N. Croff."
138 THE STOLEN WIFE
No, thanks, I do not care for any more from
you, madam. You, who never so much as
thanked me for my attempt to relieve your
boy, who frustrated my efforts by his incor-
rigibility. You, who ignored my first letter
to you until you feared exposure of the rail-
road company for employing your epileptic
son in its train dispatcher's offices.
That they were pretty well frightened is
attested by the fact that her daughter wrote
the following to her uncle, the brother who
is with me ; the one of all the family who has
shown appreciation of what neurology, at my
hands, was able to do for them all :
"Sedalia, June 15. Dear Uncle Will: No
doubt you will be surprised to receive a letter
from me, but I write to say the doctor has
misunderstood Mamma. She has advised
Amy to go back and I also, as the doctor has
been so good to her in many ways. Mamma
has always spoken well of the doctor and what
he did for Will. I'm so sorry this trouble
had to come and hope it will come out all
right. I know this has been a strain on you
as well as doctor. Mamma feels very badly
to think the doctor thinks she is against him
for she is not at all. This leaves us all well.
Trusting things may change for the better
and to have a line from you when you have
time, Sincerely your niece, Belle Carmony."
Neither of the two letters quoted last fit
with what Amy told me in one of her spells
MRS. "G. ALLAN" ROWE.
Wife of "The Man Gossip," Who Affects "Society"
and Who Helped Belle Black Steal a Wife.
THE STOLEN WIFE 139
of temper at Kansas City. She said then that
Nannie and her children expressed wonder
that I should want her to come back when I
had 'ordered' her out. It shows a two-faced-
ness all around. Here is another, received the
very next day from the California sister, at
Oak Park, Sacramento, to whom I had written
sixty days before, asking her help, and who
had ignored me to date :
"Oak Park, Sacramento, Cal., June 12th.
Dr. McCormick: Dear Brother: Without
doubt you will be surprised at this time to
receive a letter from me asking a favor of
you, but I have that faith in your goodness
to feel that you will grant it. I wish you
would send Amy to me for a time that she
may have a change and rest from the sur-
roundings that have wrought such a change
in her and saddened her. Through all her
life and ill health she has been so cheerful,
hopeful and courageous that it must return in
time with a change. I will take her to the
mountains and coast and leave her free to re-
gain all that made her what she was. I will
promise you there shall be no influence
brought to bear, but that she shall be left free
to recover from all that has so saddened and
changed her since I saw her. I will take it
as a great favor if you will trust her to my
care for a time that she may recover herself,
for I fear it will be disastrous for her to re-
turn to the scenes of her sorrows at this time.
Time and change are mighty factors in work-
ing out good results wfien at times all seems
140 THE STOLEN WIFE
wrong. She is now nearing a delicate period
in her life which may have much influence
on her. That house, too, will ever be a re-
minder ' of that sad event, mother's death.
Should you grant this favor, send this to her
and greatly oblige yours, most faithfully and
sincerely, Mary E. Phillips/'
There is an exhibit of nerve. Sixty days
after I let her know of the trouble she ad-
dresses me such a letter, ignoring my side
of the case, assuming that I am too dense
to see that they have worked the scheme out
together. Amy gave the whole snap away
when she told me she thought it would be a
good thing for her to go to California for a
time — no consideration of me or my conven-
ience or happiness at any stage of the game
by any of them. They call me "unjust" and
all sorts of things part of the time and when
they want something more they all write me
I am so "good." They are a lot of infernal
hypocrites. My wife's love for her mother has
been overshadowed by the vile influence of
that viper, Belle Black, as is proved by her
permitting Belle to persuade her to do things
she knows very well mother would disapprove.
My wife is either under that vile influence
or she is vile herself. I do not believe the
latter possible, but there are no other ways
of looking at it. And now, when this insult-
ing assumption comes that mother's death has
THE STOLEN WIFE 141
"saddened" my wife, when her exhibits have
been positively erratic, it is a reflection on her
intelligence to presume that a woman forty
years old is going to hold spite at a house be-
cause her good old mother died in it. What
sort of brains have those people, I wonder.
After waiting nearly a month, to give the
California branch of the family a taste of her
own dilatory medicine, I addressed her the
following :
Chicago, Illinois, July 11, 1910.
"Mrs. L. O. Phillips, Oak Park, Sacramen-
to, Cal. : Madam : I have your letter of a
month ago, written sixty 'days after I had
asked your aid in rescuing your sister, my
wife, from the baneful influence of Belle
Black, the worst woman it has ever been my
misfortune to know. Your delay of sixty days
in replying to my appeal is sufficient to con-
vince me that your desire to see Amy led you
to assist Belle in her schemes, although I do
not believe you would contribute to wrecking-
Amy's happiness and mine deliberately.
"The facts in the whole matter are just
these : I have always been good to Amy. She
says so. I took her after she had been doped
and operated all her life. I made a well wom-
an of her. I gave mother and dirty Belle a
home for three years, paying Belle $10 a week
for six months, with board, and gave her a
home free the rest of the time. I took your
brother Will at the solicitation of mother and
the girls and made a man of him. I have done
many other things which should have won
142 THE STOLEN WIFE
for me decent respect. Belle, the vile, thin-
lipped, disappointed chaser-after-a-husband-
and-can't-catch-one, viper, hated Will because
she couldn't make him bow to her will and
as soon as her mother died she began work
on Amy's sympathies until, in April, she got
her to the point where, as spokesman for
Belle, she demanded that I throw Will out of
the school or they would both leave. Amy
says I called her a liar and told her to go to
hell. She knows that is false. She was prac-
tically calling me a liar by persisting in say-
ing that Will had been talking to me in an
evil way about her and she kept repeating it
after I had declared positively that neither
Will nor anyone else had ever said anything
but good about her — it was on one of those
occasions that I, being tired of the story, re-
plied : 'That's a lie'; and it is a lie to this day.
Then she retorted : T am going to leave you
one of these days and never come back ; I
won't leave my address either' ; to which I
replied, being out of patience : 'Oh, you may
go to hell if you want to.' Now suppose this
is what she left her home for. Do you ap-
prove of such an exhibit of ingratitude to her
husband and to the cause he represents? Do
you believe your sister Amy is so deliberately
low that she would be guilty of such a crime
as demanding that her husband make her
happy and she do nothing to contribute to
his happiness? I insist she is under the in-
fluence of that vile Belle and I have docu-
mentary evidence to prove it. I cannot be-
lieve that Amy has been a deliberate rascal
for six years, yet on the face of the evidence
that is exactly what is the case. I choose to
THE STOLEN WIFE 143
believe it is a case of hypnotism. Within a
month Amy has told me the most deliberate
lies, looking me squarely in the face as she
did it. She has deliberately insulted me by
ignoring my questions in my letters and has
done many things that are not Amy. Next
week you will receive a copy of Mature Medi-
cine which contains some hints about what I
am going to do. If you can get Amy away
from Belle's influence and get her to her hus-
band soon said publication can be stopped.
Otherwise Belle not only gets what is com-
ing to her but if she ever sets foot in Chicago
she will get a damage suit for alienation of
my wife. If I did not believe Amy absolutely
guiltless in all this I would not want her
back. I would not want to look at her. I
would have too much contempt for her. In
my book I propose to tell the entire story.
If you all can stand it, I can. Charles Mc-
Cormick."
Since there has been no reply to this, I as-
sume the female to whom it is addressed has
discovered I understand her game, and, as she
also deserted a husband before she married her
present one, she will, no doubt, prove a val-
uable ally to Belle in her diabolical plans.
•UNNECESSARY EVILS.
There are some people on earth who might
be placed on a special list of "Unnecessary
Evils." They are of a calibre similar to a
"twenty-two short" revolver — of no practical
use, but still dangerous. It is a humiliation
to confess it, but I have a sister, who lives
in Buffalo, New York, who is one of the who-
ever-she's-with sort, and she is married to an
alleged man, of the catch-as-catch-can stripe.
This couple has been referred to hitherto in
this book and I promised to attend to their
case later. Here it is :
Reared in a little Ohio town, where there
were few opportunities in a social way, the
girl went "daffy," when she got into a middle-
weight class in Buffalo, and she has never re-
covered her original equilibrium. The follow-
ing sample will serve as an introduction to
the details of the couple's connection with this
case:
In September, 1906, I sent her a letter an-
nouncing my coming marriage and inviting
her to be present. She replied, devoting four
pages to telling me about a recent enjoyable
trip to Duluth, to her trials with reference to
"maids" and "laundresses," a trip to the Pros-
THE STOLEN WIFE 145
pect house, Niagara Falls, to "afternoon card
parties/' to "committee" meetings, to canning
prunes, etc., after which, incidentally, she re-
ferred to my marriage with : "I received your
announcement and will be glad to hear of your
plans. I fear, though, that it will be quite
impossible for me to come to Chicago/' This
made me a little warm, so I wrote her:
"My Dear Sister : Yours received and I am
truly sorry you are compelled to lead so stren-
uous a life as you describe — card parties, com-
mittees meetings, etc., for I fear you are be-
coming one of those who have a contempt for
all who do not affect the 'Club Woman,' and
when my sister has time to go to the moun-
tains and take lake trips, but tells me it is
'quite impossible' to attend my wedding, even
when she has not yet learned when it will
occur, and adds, condescendingly, T will be
glad to hear of your plans,' I beg in all the
humbleness of my position, to say that I will
not intrude myself or my plans. I will only
say that I am a well doctor (she wrote that
her husband, Dr. 'G. Allan' Rowe, was not
well), who is about to marry a woman who is
so superior to any 'society' woman that
walks, there is no room for comparison. She
is well-bred, accomplished in ways she does
not even know I am aware of, and withal so
modest and sweet that no decent woman
could fail to love her. If I have misinterpret-
ed your letter I am sorry — for you — because
grandiloquence don't go down my throat with-
out choking me and I am fully capable of padr
146 THE STOLEN WIFE
dling my own canoe, with the help of a sweet
soul whose life I saved after the great Senn
and others failed utterly and who has saved
my mentality from the blight of hypocrisy and
despair. She is the only real woman in the
world to me and I shall be content with her
and home. Humbly your brother, Charles."
Nearly a month afterward I received a sort
of an apology asking that I permit my pros-
spective wife to arbitrate the difference be-
tween us. It was so contemptible and so long
delayed that I gave it the proper reply and
our relations were strained for some years.
In the spring of 1909 her manner of living
ended naturally in an operation for "appendi-
citis." Her husband wrote she was near death
and my good wife suggested that I go to see
her. I replied I would go if she would accom-
pany me. She went and they became acquaint.
The woman didn't die. Later she spent sev-
eral weeks in my home, recuperating, while
she ridiculed our methods, criticized individ-
uals and made herself so generally disagree-
able I was glad when she took her departure.
Like many another fool woman of her class,
she told stories about herself and her husband
Which were, to say the least, unnecessary, and,
to absolve my wife from any charge of vio-
lating a confidence, in repeating the stories
to me, I will say that it was done at the re-
quest of the confessor, who had misinterpret-
THE STOLEN WIFE 147
ed what she had heard of the sex disease
teachings of my school (she probably got her
ideas from Belle Black, the prude) as I can
prove, if necessary, by others to whom she
talked in my house. This was, evidently, the
reason for her telegraphing my wife to visit
Buffalo at once after she found there was
trouble here. In substantiation of this opin-
ion I have the statement of my wife when I
met her in Kansas City, later. The very first
thing she said was : "I think your sister
Carrie is the sweetest woman I ever saw and
I will always be her friend, no matter what
happens. You know that story I told you last
summer, after she went home, about her
friend? Well, I never told you any such
thing." If other corroboration is wanted I
have it at my command.
While this sister w r as eating my "salt" she
saw that Belle had a grudge against her
brother, and when her conduct toward me
and my system became so obnoxious to Dr.
Black it turned his stomach to such an extent
that he paid her little attention, she went
to my wife and Belle with complaint about
it — how's that for "sassiety"? They proceeded
to worry me with it, when it was a situation
I could not tackle. Belle got her cue from
the incident, however, and when she got to
the point where she had taken my wife from
148 THE STOLEN WIFE
her home she worked her plans so they would
get to Buffalo to tell tlieir story, sure of
staunch allies, because my sister didn't like
Dr. Black and her husband never has liked
me, for no reason I can imagine except that
I have been and am engaged in a legitimate
business, while his is so dubious that Uncle
Sam has been after him for misusing the
mails. At all events, when the opportunity
offered they show r ed themselves in their true
characters, by inviting the two girls to their
home and taking positive side with them on
general principles, saying that it "looks like
choosing business instead of a wife," etc. Dr.
Rowe even going so far as to say that he
regarded me as a "sex pervert," thus laying
himself open to action by a grand jury — and
he may get it yet. I have an impudent letter
from him confessing he said it. When my
wife reported that conversation to a mutual
friend, evidently for my benefit, she added :
"From what I know and have heard of Dr.
Rowe I do not regard him as a normal man/'
The very evident object in publishing this
book is to punish, as nearly adequately as pos-
sible, those who have broken up my happy
home, by taking away all that I hold dear,
and set an example which I hope will be
emulated by others who have suffered at the
hands of gossips and busybodies.
THE STOLEN WIFE 149
There is an "unwritten law" in all "Chris-
tian" lands, fostered by public sentiment,
which justifies one in killing another who
breaks up his home. In the same countries
there is, paradoxically, a sentiment against
the publication of one's own affairs save in
hypothetical form. This book is a violation
of the latter sentiment, and, its author, being
un-Christian, has felt himself ' warranted in
violating the first also. Murder never righted
a w r rong, whether committed by an individual
or by the state. There is a natural law of
order which all should respect, and its viola-
tion produces, naturally, conditions which
must be treated consistently or the disorder
will spread. The most despicable, characters
in the world are those who take advantage
of their infirmities — or relationships — to com-
mit acts which, in the absence of said infirm-
ities, would meet with condign punishment.
The chief duality of such infirmities is being
a cripple or a female. There are situations
when neither should be regarded as sufficient
to w r arrant immunity. The absolute or par-
tial control of one's mentality by another has
been the subject of much discussion for many
years. The facts set forth in this book tend
to confirm the probability of such influence. I
believe, firmly, that my wife has not been in-
sane for a minute ; but I believe as firmly she
150 THE STOLEN WIFE
has been acting automatically under the pow-
erful influence of a morbid mentality, or rath-
er a set of them, that of her sister, Belle, being
the most persistent, because of her opportuni-
ties, but not more vicious than that of my
own sister and brother-in-law. All of them
are very mediocre in every other direction,
as any who ever meets them and studies them
will note quickly.
This 'G. Allan' Rowe, is a 'genito-urinary'
doctor, with offices at 60 Niagara street, Buf-
falo, N. Y. Ask any physician how that class
of doctors stand with the profession and he
will tell you they are of such natures that
"sex perversion" is the uppermost thing in
their minds, then his assertion about me will
be accounted for. As a matter of fact the
scoundrel knows absolutely nothing about me
or my methods of practice and what he says
in his letter, which will be given in full, is a
lie on its face, and in its core. Happily I do
not need defense against such charges and my
wife will attest it, as she has done already.
When I learned of the despicable conduct
of this cur and his wife in taking a stand
against me, when I had never done either of
them anything but good, I decided to find out
why they had not sought to aid in reuniting
my wife and myself by inviting me to their
home when Amy would be there, so I wrote
THE STOLEN WIFE 151
my sister two weeks after that visit and asked
her if Amy had given her any reason for leav-
ing me. I received another of those "lofty"
letters in reply :
"Buffalo, N. Y., May 12, 1910.
"Dear Brother : I am in the depths of house
cleaning which we usually have finished by
first of May, and as I have to direct and think
for everybody, am just snatching a few min-
utes this morning to answer your note of the
9th inst.
"You ask why Amy did not stay longer with
us. Well she thought a week was as long a
time as she could spare just now — and I pre-
sume had her own reasons for wishing to re-
turn when she did.
"She told me, of course, something of the
trouble — which trouble I regret more than I
can tell 'you — and I truly wish I could help
solve it so that it would end happily for every
body concerned.
"I fear however that I am helpless in the
matter, but from my observations while with
you all last summer, am inclined to think you
are looking in the wrong direction for the
causes of the trouble.
(This was referring to Dr. Will Black, on
whose shoulders Belle has sought to place the
blame.)
"Amy's mind does not appear to be less strong
or well-balanced than at any time I have seen
her before, and she seems quite capable of
deciding matters for herself — so it appears to
US, at least.
(This was in reply to a question from me
152 THE STOLEN WIFE
with reference to the domination of her mind
by Belle.)
"It seems to me you ought to be able to find
the best way out of it and soon, too.
"I sincerely hope you will and both you and
Amy have our best wishes in every way. As
ever, your sister Carrie. "
This from a woman who had been counsel-
ing my wife, two weeks before, to have an
inquest on my sanity, and a lot of other fool-
ishness, which, if ever tried would result in
disgracing all the complainants.
I wrote at once explaining to her that "US"
had jumped at a conclusion with reference to
Will and expressed my opinion of such con-
duct on the part of all concerned. I received
the following evasive reply :
"Buffalo, N. Y., May 18, 1910.
"Dear Brother Charles : Your long and ex-
planatory letter received and perused, I cannot
say with pleasure, as the affair under discus-
sion is certainly a most unhappy one. It is
one, too, that it seems only the parties imme-
diately concerned could do anything towards
a settlement.
(She tried to settle it with a vengeance when
she had my girl in her house.)
"I truly had hoped that your domestic and
business affairs had assumed a more tranquil
state, and that for good this time.
(This was a gratuitous insult so far as my
business is concerned, as it has always been
legitimate and successful.)
"It is rather a difficult matter to form an
THE STOLEN WIFE 153
opinion on, and so I am not going to try to
JUDGE anybody or anything, and as to ex-
pressing opinions, I believe the less said the
better, as I do not wish to do anyone any in-
justice whatever.
(What a marvelous change had come over
the spirit of her since she expressed opinions
of me to my wife.)
"If it were in my power to do anything, even
the least little thing, to bring you and Amy
together again and happily, as well as for the
rest of your life, then I'd be more than glad
to do it.
(She had a rare opportunity when she tele-
graphed Amy to go to Buffalo, but she didn't
use it.)
"But I don't see how it can be in anyone's
power, as I think she is doing what she con-
siders best for all concerned — was not able to
see anything wrong with her mind, except
worry, which will upset anyone for the time
being. Lovingly, Carrie."
After my first trip to .Kansas City, when
my wife had agreed to return home and ap-
peared so happy that it was all settled, I
wrote the Buffalo hypocrite as follows :
Chicago, Mav 31, 1910.
"Carrie L. Rowe, 355 Utica Street West.
Buffalo, N. Y. : Dear Sister: It may interest
you to learn that I have just returned from
Kansas City, Mo., where I met my sweet wife
and won her back, despite the machinations
of those who have grossly outraged my hos-
pitality. My success I owe to the fact that
I have never deceived my wife in any manner.
154 THE STOLEN WIFE
have been loyal to her in spite of the face of
the evidence that she alone was doing all the
things, when I knew it was only her sympa-
thetic soul that made her permit her mind to
be dominated by people who say : 'What your
husband don't know won't hurt him/ etc. My
efforts were assisted ably by my GOOD
FRIENDS Dr. Shoults, Mrs. Wood and the
Crosby's. Now if I can steer clear of those
whose jealousy of my success in developing
the greatest system of practice ever devised
and making it a business success as well, I
will have a happy home.
"It is a sympathetic soul that can, at the
behest of another, interested party, look her
husband in the face and deliberately repudiate
a story which she had told in detail to him
at the request of that other — and expect him
to believe it. I just smiled and pitied and
swore that I will protect her from such people
hereafter.
"Happily, your brother Charles. "
Those hot shots were ignored in her reply,
but I suspect she has had a hand in upsetting
my arrangement, because that class will do
almost anything when cornered or frightened.
She wrote :
"Buffalo, N. Y., June 2, 1910.
"Dear Brother Charles : Yours of May 31st
I found awaiting me after an all-day tiresome
trip down town, and was too much tired out
to write last evening, even if one of the neigh-
bors had not been in. Without question I was
interested' VERY MUCH to know that you
and Amy have decided to try it all over again,
WILLIAM L. BLACK, M. D.
Dean, and Professor of Physics and Anatomy, McCormick
Medical College — the brother Belle hates because
he conquered himself.
THE STOLEN WIFE 155
as that is probably the best possible ending
to the affair, for all concerned, and I certainly
hope the decision may prove a happy one for
all time. Will be glad to hear from you both
and Amy at any time, and with love and all
good wishes to you both, as ever your sister
Carrie L. Rowe."
In her other letter she expressed the opinion
that she believed Amy was doing what she
considered best for all concerned. A chamel-
eon could not turn color faster than that.
After convincing myself of the perfidy of
the couple, and having learned of 'G. Allan's'
slanderous talk about me, I concluded to
touch them up a little and see if I could not
make them squeal. I sent to him a copy of
the letter I wrote my wife in which I referred
to the story my sister had told her. It hit the
mark and he replied:
"Buffalo, N. Y., June 23, 1910.
"Bro. Charles: The copy of a letter sup-
posed to have been intended for your wife is
at hand and I confess my inability to under-
stand just what your motive is in sending it
to me. Perhaps your idea is to create preju-
dice against your wife or to establish the fact
that she is untruthful. Possibly you desire
to cause trouble or misunderstanding between
others. At any rate I am inclined to seriously
question whether your motive is a good one.
If so I certainly do not approve of your
method. If the information contained in your
communication were intended for my own per-
156 THE STOLEN WIFE
sonal benefit it seems to me you would not
have waited 9 or 10 months, or until serious
trouble had developed in your own household,
before imparting it. If you had the interest
or welfare of your sister at heart it is impos-
sible to believe that you, an only brother, would
have sent such a communication to me with-
out knowing positively that the statements
made to you by your wife were true. If the
statements made by her concerning your sis-
ter are true, it indicates a most pitiable and
deplorable condition, and at the same time
adds nothing commendable to your family
history. I prefer to believe they are not
true. However, if you are in possession of
actual corroborative facts which you choose
to submit to me I shall be glad to receive
them. It should be remembered that your
sister as well as yourself may be done an
irreparable injury by misleading, false, or
derogatory statements. So far as the es-
trangement between yourself and your wife
is concerned, both of us felt deeply sorry, be-
cause we thought your marriage was a truly
congenial one. Nevertheless I am not sure
she left you 'without cause' as stated in the
'copy' before me, as it is quite unusual for
wives to leave their husbands without any
cause whatever, or just for fun. While I do
not know why she left, yet if you were to make
an honest investigation of yourself perhaps
you might find one or more reasons. If I may
judge of your character from the degree of
vindictiveness shown toward your wife in the
'copy' sent to me, and if that is any criterion
of your every day, or occasional day, of home
THE STOLEN WIFE 157
life, I should say it would not be remarkable
if a woman would find ample cause for deser-
tion. Indeed, if I were your wife and if you
were to say one-half of the hateful things to
me that you have said to her in the 'copy' I
would not only leave you but I would pro-
cure a good strong club and proceed to smash
it into splinters over your head on sight. That
is precisely the way the 'copy' appeals to me.
Of course some things in the 'copy' were said
after she left. Now, while Mrs. Rowe and
myself are especially anxious to see your do-
mestic affairs settled in a way entirely satis-
factory to both of you yet you must settle
them between yourselves and not attempt to
draw us into them either directly or indirectly.
If you want my own opinion in any matter,
domestic or otherwise, you can have it for the
asking, but I have instructed Mrs. Rowe to
give no testimony — even if she should be able
to do so — on either side. If your wife wants
my own opinion in any matter, domestic or
otherwise, she can have it, and I will give it
for or against her or for or against you, either
in your presence or absence, or in her pres-
ence or absence, just as facts and my judg-
ment dictated. Nevertheless I am sure you
can settle your differences better between
yourselves, if you are both willing to be fair,
than through the medium of any outside par-
ties. Very" truly, G. Allan Rowe."
Isn't that a bird of a letter. After the skunk
had done all the dirty work he could. He
didn't know yet what I had on him, or he
would have played another tune I suspect.
158 THE STOLEN WIFE
But I played another card or two before I
called him. Here is my reply to his oracular
product: -
"Dr. 'G. Allan' Rowe, 60 Niagara street,
Buffalo: I have your letter of yesterday and
in reply have to say: A conspiracy, in which
I have found my sister involved, has apparent-
ly wrecked my home. I have letters from my
wife since she left and from her sisters and
niece within the past three days, which will
prove to any and all people it was through
no fault of mine. In your own letter you say
you thought our marriage a congenial one. It
is my purpose to punish the guilty to the limit
of my capacity to do it. I have nothing to
care particularly for save the truth, which I
shall stick to so closely I can establish every
point in court if necessary.
"I have had several differences with my sis-
ter at different times in my life and have, for
family reasons, held my peace, except to re-
sent gratuitous insults. I have done nothing
during the 'nine or 'ten months' you refer to
because I did not feel that I owed you any-
thing in particular and as the information I
have now given does not appear to worry you
I cannot see why you should complain of my
dereliction. I should not have said anything
now, perhaps, if my sister had not taken the
part she did in my affair, by giving aid and
comfort to my arch enemy, Belle Black, in
her devilish work of stealing my wife from
my home because I refused to permit her to
dictate how I shall conduct my business. I
gave her a salary of $10 a week for six months
and gave her a home free for three years. I
THE STOLEN WIFE 159
gave her a home because I loved my wife and
her mother; and mother needed her to assist
Amy in looking after her (mother's) needs —
I always knew she was a viper, but I thought
she loved her sister enough to not attempt
to destroy her happiness.
"This fall I shall publish a book in which I
shall .go into details which will, I hope, for-
ever put a stopper on such characters as have
butted into my affairs. It may make some
people jump into the lake or other route to
oblivion, who have been holding their hypo-
critical heads high in the belief that family
ties, or some other reason, such as their 'luck'
will continue to protect them.
"My wife has gone for good, for the reason
that after living in the hell of suspense for
sixty days, she constantly promising to return,
yet remaining away, I gave her until last Mon-
day to be home or my doors would be closed.
She didn't come. She can't come until she
explains many matters which she declares she
is wholly responsible for, but which I have
utterly refused to believe, because she had no
reason to do them, and because I believe she
is under a sort of hypnotic influence ; and when
you see my story and the letters I shall surely
print, you will have to say, despite your preju-
dice, that she has either been hypnotized or
she is one of the vilest women who ever lived ;
a mercenary, a dishonest person, an absolutely
unscrupulous one. I love her so I cannot be-
lieve it. but prefer to believe she is influenced.
Talk about 'big sticks,' why, those my story
hits will be so weak when they see it they
couldn't lift a match.
"Living only to see justice meted out to the
160 THE STOLEN WIFE
wretches and conscious of never having de-
ceived my wife in the slightest, I am yours
as usual. . Charles/'
Here is what he came back with :
"Buffalo, N. Y., June 27, 1910.
"Dear Charles — And so the real true reason
why you sent me the 'copy' was to worry me.
Well ! Well ! and you seem quite disappointed
that the contents do not worry me? Do you
think I need or ought to be worried? Would
it afford you much happiness to worry me?
Would you be rapturously happy if you could
worry or injure either me or your sister? It
would seem so. Suppose you should succeed
in worrying or injuring either or both of us.
What would it get you? Outside of a little
fancied revenge it would not win you a friend,
earn you a dollar, add anything desirable to
your reputation or benefit you in any conceiv-
able way. You have worked yourself into the
false and frenzied belief that your sister has
'entered into a conspiracy to wreck your home/
What sublime rot ! I want to say once for all
that she is in better business than wrecking
homes of others. What good under heaven
would it do her to wreck your home? I want
you to stop talking such dam nonsense about
your sister. She or I might approve or dis-
approve of some things you say or do, or in-
vite Belle and Amy to our house, but that
would not constitute a conspiracy. We might
even discuss your troubles or business but that
would not be a conspiracy. A conspiracy in-
deed ! When you say your sister (or I) is in
a conspiracy to wreck your home you tell a
deliberate lie and you must not say that again.
THE STOLEN WIFE 161
Either your sister or I would not hesitate to
criticize or defend you at any time, but we are
in no conspiracy. Judging from your epistles
one would think you were as pure in thought,
act and deed as an angel from heaven, and
that you were in no wise to blame for any of
your domestic troubles. Truly a beautiful
conception of innocence. You expect to call
your w r ife a liar and tell her to go to hell, be-
side a lot of other hateful things and then are
surprised that she don't tell you that she is
head over heels in love with you. If her brother
Will had a particle of manhood or self-respect
he would have kicked you clear out into lake
Michigan for offering her such an insult. That
is what you deserved. Who ever heard of a
woman with a refined nature, such as your
wife seems to possess, being able to live with
a husband or want to return to him after writ-
ing her such damnable stuff as you sent to
me? And yet the 'king', which means you,
'can do no wrong', are free from all blame.
'Mirabile dictu !' Why don't you stop writing
such villainous letters to your wife, Belle and
others? You speak of publishing a book of
scandal and letters which will be intended to
cause people to commit suicide, etc. Oh.
double fudge ! ! You imagine the whole world
will sit up nights and tumble over itself to
read a lot of trash which could in no wise
interest it. Will you never get any sense?
While I do not wish to charge you with being
an idiot or a lunatic, you do and say a lot of
things they do and say. Cut it out. I firmly
believe you waste more energy quarreling- with
and abusing people than any man in the United
States. Stop accusing everybody else of plot-
163 THE STOLEN WIFE
ting and scheming against you, when, if you
have a thimbleful of brains, you ought to
know they are not doing it. Investigate your-
self. The biggest fool on earth is the one
who imagines everyone is plotting against
him and who refuses to see or acknowledge
any of his own faults. Now, about your
sister, I just want to say that she has defended,
praised and stood up for you far more than
you deserve. She bears you no ill will nor
do I. No one was more happy than your
sister was when she learned of your marriage
to Amy because she hoped and believed you
might be happy. She has been a much truer
friend to you during the time I have known
her than you have been to her and I know
she has always desired to be on the closest
of family terms. Your conduct in the past
and at present convinces me that you do not
desire her respect or friendship. If such is
the case then so be it. At any rate you have
been sending her and me communications of
late of such a character they are not wanted.
I don't want you to send any more of that
kind. You have also been making a lot of
foolish, childish threats which had better be
discontinued. If you choose you may take a
chance of saying anything you please about
me, because if you ever come to your senses
you may be ashamed of yourself. Neverthe-
less I want you to entirely leave out the name
of your sister in your present domestic
troubles. You are at perfect liberty to enter
upon any sort of rampage of scandal-monging,
muck-raking, dam foolism or anything you
please, but your sister's name is not to be
connected with it in any way whatever. That
THE STOLEN WIFE 163
is all I have to say on that point. I wish to
assure you further that I am not writing you
in a spirit of anger but in a spirit of friend-
ship. If you do not accept it in that spirit
all right. I do not intend that your sister
shall be worried or annoyed any further by
your matters. I am perfectly willing to make
due allowance for your present disturbed state
of mind, but if there is any further attempts
at mud-slinging, persecution or scandalizing on
your part towards your sister I shall under-
take to look after that part of it myself. There
is another thing I wish you would do when
writing to me, and that is to sign your name
either with a pen or pencil. When a man signs
his name in typewriting it always makes me
feel that he is either ashamed of his name or
is too cowardly to sign it. At any rate any
further communications from you which do
not have your own signature with ink or pencil
will be considered anonymous and treated ac-
cordingly. Now I believe if you will give
careful and sensible thought to what I have
said you will see that it is meant for your
good. If not, then run along. If at any time
you feel that you care to write me a calm, re-
spectful letter, I should be pleased to receive
it ; but if not, I think it would be better that
all further correspondence between us come to
an end. Perhaps you may be foolish enough
to be unwilling to believe that I and your
sister wish you well, but it is true, neverthe-
less. The simple facts are that life is too short
to waste it in silly or foolish quarrels. If you
can get any satisfaction in that way, all right,
but it is a mighty bad sign when a man quar-
164 THE STOLEN WIFE
rels with almost everybody. Respectfully
yours, G.. Allan Rowe."
Now isn't that verbosity for you? He noti-
fies me that he and my sister will discuss my
affairs when they "dam" please and with whom
they please, but I must not resent it or HE
will take a hand. He claims they wish me
well, yet undertakes to prove by what he
heard from vile Belle that I am an awful
thing, unworthy of respect — yet he signs him-
self "respectfully yours." Here is the reply
I sent. It takes all of this stuff to complete
the story:
"Chicago, June 29, 1910.
" 'G. Allan' Rowe, Buffalo, N. Y. : I never
knew one of the 'J. Henry' or 'G. Percy' class
that was not an ass and a coward. You are
making good. You did not tell Amy that 'it
looks like giving up a wife for business' did
you? You and Carrie did not comment on
our trouble without waiting to hear my side
did you? Carrie did not telegraph to Amy
and get her to go to Buffalo so that she might
fix up a story about her own amours did she?
You are a cad. I shall never have anything
more to do with either of you save to get even
for your parts in this affair. I have proofs
of my innocence in the matter, as I wrote you
before, written by Amy herself and by her
sisters in the past two weeks. I have some
other information that will interest you, but I
shall reserve it for the book I propose to print
soon which will make some people sit up and
take notice. You try to ridicule the idea of
THE STOLEN WIFE 165
people reading anything I might write. I
have written a number of books in the past and
you can't find any of them in second-hand
stores. As to what you will do if I attack
my 'own sister' you make me sick. I have
heard you express yourself on a certain ques-
tion — why do you not tackle the man nearer
home. You would better practice on him be-
fore you tackle me. You have always sland-
ered me. You told mother once that I am
the best mathematician you ever saw, am all
right on some things, but crazy as a loon on
others. I told her to ask you how you knew
we are not both crazy on the subjects we
chance to agree. I hate hypocrites wherever
they may be and whoever they are. My sis-
ter outraged my hospitality last summer by
ridiculing our methods until Dr. Fred Rebman
called her down. Dr. Black incurred her en-
mity because she conducted herself so that
he let her alone and she complained to his
sisters about it. That encouraged them when
they wanted an ally in this conspiracy — they
knew Carrie is of a calibre that she needs only
hear one side. I have a letter from Carrie,
three or four weeks ago — after I wrote her ;
I would probably never have known the girls
had been at your house but for an accident —
criticising him and underscoring 'us's' opinion
of the situation. I wrote her a hot letter and
I'll bet you have not seen it. I received a
conciliatory reply. You are all a lot of Butt-
in-skies, who are as sure to be exposed as I
am to write a book — and I'll write it as sure
as Amy does not return with apologies and
confession that she committed a vile outrage
on a good husband — I insist she did it under
166 THE STOLEN WIFE
pressure from that vile sister of hers. As to
you and your threats — damn you, just try any
funny business on me if you dare, you coward
and poltroon. As to signing my name on the
machine : I wrote the whole letter on the
machine — maybe you don't like that — it is
scarcely anonymous. I will vouch for the sig-
nature any old day. Only a coward and a
baby would write in such a puerile manner
and use such execrable Latin-French as you
do. As to Dr. Black's remaining here, it was
the only thing he could do honorably, in view
of what I have done for his family, and he has
done it like the man he is — the others have
done the other thing. When you see the book
you will take off your hat to it for its literary
excellence so far as truth goes and the queen's
english will not be so bad. Contemptuously,
Charles McCormick."
A few days later I sent him this one for
good measure :
'"G. Allan' Rowe, the G. U. man: One
more word in addition to the letter you will
receive ahead of this. It lay in your power
and my sister's to have used your influence
to get Amy and me together to discuss with
you our positions and you chose, my sister
chose, to 'knock' on me. Therefore you will
be included among the conspirators.
"How different from your conduct is that
of our friends, Dr. and Mrs. S. L. Reid, of
Kansas City, who write me today: 'Mrs. Mc-
Cormick called last Thursday and the news
of your differences was a great shock to us,
for we have often remarked that we never saw
THE STOLEN WIFE 167
two people whom we thought their lives were
more in accord. While the turn of affairs
must be a severe blow to you we hope it
will not hinder the great work in which you
are engaged'. Now, don't you feel ashamed,
you cur? The Reids are no relation, but were
with us for over six months and know us
better than you do. I'll make you and your
wife sweat for your parts."
Incidentally the Reids wrote a week later :
"It seems too bad you and Mrs. McCormick
could not get together and alone adjust your
differences and be happy again. I am very
sorry indeed for you both, especially for you,
believing as I do that your very life, almost,
depended on her. You seem to be sure that
she loves you, or at least did love you at one
time. It is hard for me to understand, such
being the case, how she can leave you thus.
If I have said too much please forget it. S. L.
Reid."
Here were friends of us both, getting the
story solely from Amy, not being able to find
me to blame, while my devilish relatives aided
and abetted Belle in her vile work. I sent
this last letter to Amy and I learn she sent
brother Reid a warm roast. I'll bet Belle dic-
tated it. Amy couldn't do such nasty things
alone.
On July 16 I sent Rowe a copy of the
September number of "Mature Medicine" in
which I referred to the probability of this
book and that it would make a clean sweep
168 THE STOLEN WIFE
of his class. I also wrote him, as I thought it
about time : he should know I knew of his vile
slander about me, and I offered it as evidence
that his letters professing friendship were
lies:
" 'G. Allan', the G. U. Man : How do you
like the September number of 'Mature Medi-
cine'? And so you told Amy I am a 'sex per-
vert' did you? How do you know, you scoun-
drel? She says she does not regard you as
a normal man, from all she has seen and heard
of you. There's more dose to follow, my boy.
The next time you butt into anyone's affairs
I'll bet you'll think some first. Charles."
Ten days later he sends the following
screed, which is printed to show how far his
type will go in support of his devilish lies :
"Buffalo, N. Y., July 26, 1910: My Dear
Charles : There is no use trying to carry on
a correspondence with you because you are
not only dishonorable and unfair in your state-
ments but absolutely untruthful. The chief
characteristic of your correspondence with
me has been threats and villification. As that
appears to be the level of your intellectuality
no doubt you feel very proud of yourself. You
have accused me of 'butting into' your affairs,
of using my influence to induce your wife to
leave you. Why you dam fool, what good
would Jt do me to have your wife leave you?
You also accuse your sister of urging your
wife to leave. What earthly good would it
do her? You cannot name one sane or intelli-
gent reason why we should want your wife
THE STOLEN WIFE 169
to leave you. All along you have repeatedly
stated that you were not in any way to blame
for your wife leaving you, whereas the facts
are, so far as I can learn, that you are the
chief and only reason for her leaving. I told
Amy you were a 'sexual pervert' because 1
could not explain some of your actions in any
other way. My chief reason, however, for such
an opinion, was because of what you told me
about yourself and especially of what you told
me of the treatment you gave to a certain
young lady under age who was entrusted to
your professional care. If you are not a sex-
ual pervert, or one of the most dangerous
criminal lunatics at large then what under
heavens are you? I cannot conceive of any
other sort of person doing the things you have
told me you do. But I hope you will not
think I said anything to Amy about you that
I would not say to you personally. Indeed
I said every good thing to your wife about
you that I knew. Your sister and I both ad-
vised her not to take the step she did from
anger or petulance. We advised her to go
back and try it again.
[What ! advised her to go back and try it
again with a man you held the opinion of you
claim to have of me ? Oh, you scoundrel !]
"We advised her to forget and forgive. We
did everything we could honorably to mend
the breach between you because we were
deeply grieved to learn of your troubles. But
her mind seemed to be fully made up not to
go back, so what more could we do? And yet
you blame us because she left and for trying
170 THE STOLEN WIFE
to influence her against you. You know
mighty well that you are lying when you make
such accusation. Why sir, if you said one-
fourth about your wife that was contained in
the 'copy' you sent me I do not see how
she could ever think of going back to you
without sacrificing every atom of womanhood
that was in her. Let me tell you that if I
had been your wife and if you said the vile,
hateful, nasty things you wrote and said to
her, taking your own word for it, I would have
broken your dam neck if it had been the last
act of my life. And then to assert that you
are the personification of innocence, or w r ords
to that effect. Great Goodness ! If you make
such an assertion a few more times I know
the Lord will be tempted to send another flood
and drown you. Now about the use of my
name in your books, publications or corre-
spondence, I have to say : In a former letter
I gave you permission to say what you please
about me. I now withdraw that permission
because you have clearly demonstrated that
you are incapable of telling the truth. I have
never intentionally or wilfully done you an
injustice, nor has your sister so far as I know.
Neither she nor I have 'butted in' (save the
remark) or interfered in any way with your
domestic, professional or other affairs, except
to talk over your troubles with your wife
when she visited us. We would, no doubt,
have said practically the same things if you
had been there present. At any rate there
is absolutely no secret about what we said.
Your sister and I are not now and have not
worked or done anything against you through
jealousy, malice or anything else. We are
THE DESERTED HUSBAND.
Whose "Attitude Toward People" is Disapproved —
after the Disapprovers have played Him
to a Finish,
THE STOLEN WIFE 171
deeply sorry that your domestic happiness has
been marred for any reason whatever, because
it certainly would do us no possible good. We
do now and always have wished you every
success in business and otherwise you could
wish yourself. Why not? We have done
everything we could to maintain pleasant re-
lations with you, but that seems to be impos-
sible. You evidently are trying to pick a
quarrel with me, on account of some fancied
wrong, I presume. In view of these things I
wish to say that I have no desire for any
further controversy with you or to discuss
your affairs in any way whatever. If I can-
not maintain pleasant relations with people I
don't want to maintain any at all. I have
allowed you to draw me into much more dis-
cussion of your affairs than necessary or in-
tended, but I wanted to be absolutely fair with
you and explain matters fully. However, it
seems the more I try to convince you of my
good intentions the meaner you get, so I do
not intend to do any more explaining or dis-
cussing. I have just this to say, and that is:
My name or the name of your sister is not to
appear in any way whatever, in any books,
pamphlets, or publications you may issue in
the future. I want you to attend strictly to
your own business and let me alone. While
I don't hanker for any quarrel with you, yet
if I must have one I shall endeavor to settle
it dam quick. I simply don't intend to tolerate
any blackguardism, vilification, or any other
dirty work from you. G. Allan Rowe."
Here's a fellow who wants to maintain
"pleasant relations" with me and retain the
172 THE STOLEN WIFE
privilege of abusing me to my wife and others,
even to writing abuse and threats to me.
Here's a fellow who is such a blackguard that
he libels me and signs his name to the letter;
winding up with threats of what he will do
if I "blackguard" him. That would be impos-
sible. I will run him out of Buffalo. I will
show him by these presents that he can't
slander me with impunity and go scott free.
What a wonderful conception of honor and
friendship that scoundrel has? One moment
he admits he told my wife I was a vile person ;
the next he says he advised her to come back
to me. The next he tells what he would do
if he were my wife. By the way, the pup does
not know what a "sex pervert" is I'll bet. It
is "one who seeks other species, physically," ac-
cording to law. The scoundrel says he did
not say anything to my wife that he would not
have said if I had been there. Yes he did.
He said several things he would not dare to
say in my presence. The coward. Only a
genito-urinary, "G. Allan" sort of a chap could
conceive of such stories as he tried to start
on me. My wife knows me, and every act of
my life. She is not ashamed of me at any
stage of the proceedings. She says herself
that she left me on her brother's account. I
say she left on Belle's account and prove it
by her own utterances — when she said if she
THE STOLEN WIFE 173
came back it would be an admission that Belle
was wrong. Yet here is a blackguard who,
without knowing anything about the case, pre-
sumes to tell me I am the sole cause of her
leaving — yet he is my friend ! !
Here is my reply to the confessed libeler :
"Chicago, July 27, 1910. 'G. Allan' Rowe,
60 Niagara St., Buffalo, N. Y. : Sir: I have
your letter of July 26, and if I had not in-
tended printing all of your letters to show what
a character you are, I would do it now. If
you think for a minute I am afraid of such a
blow-hard as you are, it is due you to learn
that you don't make a tremor pass over me.
When you say I ever told you of 'treatments'
administered to a young lady under age, or
of any age, you are a dirty liar. I shall print
your letter along with the others and thus
incidentally show you up as you are. Uncle
Sam has never been after me for misusing the
mails. The things I shall show up are matters
of record, either over your own signature or
others. I am mentally, financially and physi-
cally responsible for what I do. You black-
guard ! you have libeled me to Amy, in saying
I am a 'sex pervert' ; you have admitted you
said it; now you propose to back it up with
another lie. Amy told Dr. Shoults she had
never regarded you as a normal man from
what she has seen of you and what your own
wife told her of you. Take that, you scamp.
Amy knows all about me. I never found it
necessary to conceal anything from her. Your
'dam quick' threats have no terrors for me. I
am able to take care of myself with you any
174 THE STOLEN WIFE
time. I shall also print some of my sister's
letters in order to prove the conspiracy propo-
sition. You and your class of butt-in-skies are
going to get an expose that will teach you all
the lesson of your lives. I want to illustrate it.
Please send me a late picture of yourself. 1
want to show the type. I have an old one
but it has side whiskers and flatters you by
hiding too much of your countenance.
"As to my quarreling with everybody, I
have never quarreled with anyone in my life
who did not attack me first. I have known
many like you, who want to say and do any
old damned thing they please to me but if I
resent it I am 'quarrelsome/ Amy has writ-
ten me, at Belle's instigation, of course, that
my 'attitude toward people is wrong.' I be-
lieve it has been heretofore, because they all
get about all they want out of me and then
give me the go-by, throwing in such insults
without extra charge. With contempt, Charles
McCormick."
About this time I sent the following letter
to the head of the Black family at Slater, Mis-
souri. He has been good to the girls and will,
I hope, keep it up. They may need it ; but I
wanted to make some things a part of this
record to make it complete :
"Chicago, July 27, 1910.
"S. L. Black, Slater, Mo. Sir: In the matter
of the theft of my wife, by your sisters, Belle
Black, Nannie J. Croff, Sallie Letcher and
Betty Phillips, I want to say to you a word
in defense of Will; not that he needs it so
much, but because I am going to print all the
THE STOLEN WIFE , 175
particulars of the outrage upon Amy and me
and I desire to make it a part of the vile record.
"First, It has been claimed persistently, by
Amy, under Belle's damnable influence, that
Will has prejudiced me against Amy and the
rest of the family by gossiping about them,
when I have assured her repeatedly there is
not a word of truth in her charge. I have
never been prejudiced against Amy by anyone.
All the gossip I ever heard about the family
came from the girls themselves. In her let-
ters, which I shall print, Amy tells that I
knew of Will's 'horrible career' before he ever
came to our house. I did know what they told
me of him and no more. Yet the girls were
both anxious to have me tackle the case and
I did it for Amy's and mother's sake. I suc-
ceeded beyond my expectations ; for he is a
winner, not only over his old habit, but as a
teacher in my school. Ask any of our two
hundred students who have been under him
in the past two years. The girls also told
me of your 'career' in Saline county, saying
that you had disgraced the family by your
conduct and finally married a woman not
equal to your family standard, although they
like her. They also criticized your treatment
of her and told me they advised her to get a
divorce. I told them they would better keep
hands off your affairs for the reasons that it
was none of their business and that you had
been very good to attend to their business
affairs for nearly twenty years. They also
told me of 'Brack's career' with John Barley-
corn, even to the story that he married a
sporting woman while drunk in Slater one day.
They told me that Sally was ashamed of her
176 THE STOLEN WIFE
mother and did not want her to live with
them. Mother lived with us over three years
and I never saw anything about the sweet
old lady to be ashamed of — I have never
known a finer woman in my life. They told
me of Betty's life with her first husband, how
she deserted him, and of her troubles with
the present one ; Betty told me of some of
them herself while here, she asked my advice
how to secure herself in the matter of the in-
terests she claimed in the partnership property,
which was in his name, in case he should die.
I told her I had made a will giving all I have
to Amy and suggested she tell him about it
as he would likely do the same, which I under-
stood later he did. The girls also told me
of Nannie's weaknesses and how her husband
had deserted her. They also told me of Aleck's
quarrel with them and mother because they
shipped their old piano to him at Bozeman,
Montana, as a present and how he refused to
pay the freight. They also told me of John's
troubles and that it cost his father a lot of
money to get him out of his scrape. (I have
since learned from Will that was a mistake,
there were no charges filed against John and
it cost practically nothing.) They also told
me of the murder of John by his wife who is
now doing time in the penitentiary for it.
They lay great stress on the 'horribleness' of
Will's 'career' when it was not half as bad as
'Brack's', who deserted his wife and baby and
yet they have nothing but good words for him.
Amy told me of your criticism of me for earn-
ing $150,000 in fifteen years and not holding
onto some of it. Both have told me how you
took care of their tax matters and the 'consci-
THE STOLEN WIFE 177
entious' Belle ridiculed Will at my table for
giving in all the family property for taxation
one time. They have told me lots of other
things which I could repeat but the foregoing
is enough to show you that it was not Will
but they who gossiped, for they told me all
these things before I ever knew Will. They
insist that Will has me under his 'influence'
and intends to break up my school. It is
• scarcely probable that he would throw him-
self out of a good position even if he did not
like me. They demanded that I throw him
out or they would leave. Who appears to
you to want to break up the school? I'll tell
you the job can't be done. The Medical Trust
has tried that for years and our business this
year is greater than ever before. We have
the winning system. In one of her letters
Amy says I am infatuated with Will's educa-
tion and think more of it than I do of my wife,
showing that the viper, Belle, has so worked
on her sympathies that she was jealous and
untrue to herself and to me. Will has the ad-
vantage of you all in the matter of education.
He has conquered himself, which is more than
the rest can say, and he will make you all
proud of him and his achievements yet. It
is true he has irritated me a whole lot, in two
ways : One by his 'grouches', which were al-
ways caused by Belle's picking at him about
his 'mistreatment of mother' and a dozen other
little things which Avere none of her business ;
the other was because, in his gratitude for
what I did for him, he insisted on helping me
in doing things I have always done for myself,
hence was in my way. His intentions were
good and, while I roasted him for his acts I
178 THE STOLEN WIFE
appreciated the intent. They appear particu-
larly 'sore' because he has remained with me
instead of leaving, as they did. In this they
have been encouraged by my own sister and
her husband, who, Amy says, told them 4:hat
if he was a man he would not stay with me
after the way I have treated his sisters. These
people, like you, have heard only one side. A
book I am about to publish will give details
of this case to illustrate a general principle of
injustice which prevails in the world, whch
has been aptly described as 'whipping the pull-
ing horse'.
"Will knows absolutely nothing of this let-
ter nor of the contents of the book. No one
will see the latter until it is printed and bound,
ready for the public. He would advise against
it as he has against my manner of fighting
Belle since this matter was sprung on me as
the greatest surprise of my life. It lay in
your power to advise Amy to return to her
husband. You saw fit to do otherwise. That
is your business. I will attend to mine. In
one of her letters, no doubt prompted by that
sister who dominates her, Amy referred to my
former wife, who nagged me for twenty-five
years and from whom I bought my freedom
finally for $500 and the costs of a divorce suit
in which we put up a fictitious assault case
by agreement, that she might have a cause for
divorce. There are some things in that con-
nection which Amy did not mention and I
will omit them for her sake.
"Amy was happy and I was happy, until,
mother out of the way, that she-devil, Belle,
began her dirty work. Amy has treated me
scandalously, but I do not hold her responsible
THE STOLEN WIFE 179
and would forget and forgive all if she would
abandon that devil and come home. I have
written to Betty telling her how I feel and
what I propose to do if they keep my girl
away. I have had plenty of time for reply,
but none has cone. They evidently think I
will not expose them. They don't know me.
I have nearly two hundred pages of the book
ready for the printer and as soon as I shall
have finished it and revised it I shall print
it, unless my wife returns before her birth-
day anniversary, September ninth. Sincerely,
Charles McCormick."
CONCLUSION.
All of the principal women mentioned in this
book have be^n the victims of operations of
a major character and consideration of these
facts should mitigate their offenses to some
extent ; but there is a limit beyond which even
deficient people should not be allowed to go
without rebuke.
In nearly all of her letters (some of them
signed by Amy) Belle Black has prated about
my "injustice," but she has specified no in-
stance. It would have been rank "injustice"
for me to have permitted her to run my busi-
ness. It may have been "injustice" for me
to tolerate her as long as I did. However, I
have endeavored to be strictly "just" in this
book. How many of my readers will agree
with me I know not. I will be pleased to hear
from all who desire to express opinions on
the subject in general and on the conduct of
the individuals named herein.
Note that the letter signed by Belle Black
does not contain mention of her brother Will.
She makes Amy assume responsibility for all
of that, yet she is the one who made his life
as miserable as she could while she was here
THE STOLEN WIFE 181
— he has not had a "grouch" since she ceased
to nag him.
Note the awfulness of sisters advertising
hatred of their brother and seeking to drive
him out of an honorable career.
Note that Amy confesses in her letters and
to our mutual friend that she would return
to me except that it would be admitting that
Belle was wrong and that she will not live in
the house with Will — therefore she left, not
because of something I have done, but be-
cause she is so prejudiced in favor of her vile
sister she regards her as infallible ; and she is
so prejudiced against her brother that she re-
fuses to believe me when I swear that neither
he nor anyone else ever said a word against
her to me — that holds good to this day, too.
Note the sublime impudence of that male
gossip, Dr. "G. Allan" Rowe, in claiming the
right to slander and blackguard others and at
the samse time forbidding retaliation, under
threatened penalty. Here is his alleged opin-
ion of me five years ago, and I have seen him
but once since :
"Office of the Rowe Medical Company
"Chronic Diseases Our Specialty.
"60 Niagara Street
"Buffalo, N. Y., 11/9, 1905.
"Charles McCormick, M. D. My Dear
Doctor : I thank you most cordially for the
book (a copy of 'Neurology and Metaphysics'
182 THE STOLEN WIFE
I had sent him and my sister). While I have
not had an opportunity to read it thoroughly,
just from what I have read I find it to be
absolutely novel and original. I prize it most
highly, not only as a tablet to your handiwork,
but because of its clear, comprehensive and
fearless enunciation of a new theory of thera-
peutics. It most assuredly is the direct prod-
uct of profound thought, masterful analysis
and logical deductions, & its beneficent in-
fluence will live for a thousand years after you
and I are dead. From the printers' stand-
point it is a genuine piece of art. With my
very best wishes believe me to be yours faith-
fully, G. Allan Rowe."
Note that the Buffalo people had no inten-
tion of informing me of the girls' visit to them,
when they slandered me and now write pre-
tending that they have my "interests at heart."
What re-markable evidence of their friendship
and good wishes !
Note that the male gossip, "G. Allan" Rowe,
confesses he told my wife I am a man of vile
impulses, a "sex pervert," yet the scoundrel
confesses he advised her to forget it and come
back to me. He is certainly a liar one time
or the other — I believe both times. I know
he is on his story told her and so does she
know it. He "wonders" why the Lord doesn't
send a flood to drown me ! Isn't that a sub-
lime thought? It could only proceed from a
"genito-urinary" mentality.
THE STOLEN WIFE 183
Note that when the girls visited Buffalo they
also went to East Aurora, N. Y. to call on
"Fra Elbertus" — my sister took them. A con-
stant critic of Elbertus in Buffalo and a pre-
tended friend of his first wife. Dr. and Mrs.
Nield and their little son Walter (whom my
wife loved so much when he was here with
his parents), live in East Aurora. The girls
did not call on these friends — good friends.
Why? Because Belle Black knew they are
admirers of Dr. Will Black, her despised
brother, and she was afraid her scheme might
be queered accidentally.
Note that since the text of this book was writ-
ten Mrs. Roberta Moore, of Minneapolis, a form-
er student, has told me of a letter she received
from Belle Black within sixty days after mother
died, telling her, almost a stranger, that mother
had left her (Belle) nearly all her (mother's)
money. That speaks a volume in itself.
Note that my school and all of its teachings
had the unqualified approval of mother,
who has expressed regret to Amy that Belle
was constituted as she is. She has also ex-
pressed the same sentiment to me many times.
Amy knows that mother and Belle were never
anywhere near as confidential as she and her
mother were.
I love my wife. I insist my "Baby Girl"
would never have done the things she has
184 THE STOLEN WIFE
had she not been dominated by overpowering
sympathy for that unworthy, disappointed
sister. I fear she is gone forever. I know
she will not be happy. I know she loves me.
I shall hope that her great soul will see the
light and that she will come back and say:
"Dear, she was my sister and I forgot you
were my husband." That's all I want. Pll
forget everything else in having her at HOME,
OTHER BOOKS
BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS ONE
NEUROLOGY AND METAPHYSICS.
Half Morocco, 350 pages, 5x8. Illus-
trated with etchings and halftones.
Postpaid $5.00
OPTICAL TKITTHS. A home course in
Ophthalmology, 200 pages. Illustrated,
etchings and halftones. Postpaid $3.00
SYNOPSIS OP NEUEOLOGY. 200 pages,
leather bound, flexible. Pocket edition.
Pood analyses, nearly a thousand ques-
tions and answers on anatomy, physi-
ology, etc. Postpaid $1.25
McCOEMICK MEDICAL COLLEGE DIET
CHAET. 16 x 32 inches, in colors, with
"Key." Postpaid $2.10
MATUKE MEDICINE. Quarterly, will be
sent free for the asking. If wanted
regularly send $1.00
Address and make Money Orders (no checks)
payable to
McCORMICK MEDICAL COLLEGE
2100 PRAIRIE AVENUE
CHICAGO
McCORMICK MEDICA L COLLEGE
FOUNDED 1893 CHARTERED
2100 PRAIRIE AVENUE
CHICAGO
FULL MEDICAL COUESE, including Neu-
rology and Ophthalmology^ leading to
M. D. degree. Two Years. Tuition
fee $400.00
FULL NEUEOLOGICAL COURSE, includ-
ing Ophthalmology, degree N. D. Nine
Months in two years — one winter. Tui-
tion $300.00
OPHTHALMOLOGICAL COUESE com-
plete in Two Months, 384 hours, against
140 hours in four years, old school. De-
gree, Oph. D. Tuition $100.00
POST-GEADUATE COUESE for old-school
physicians in Neurology and Ophthal-
mology. Four Months. Degree, N. D.
Tuition $200.00
One copy del. to Cat. Div.
UCT 19 1910
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